Adult oligodendrocyte progenitor cells - Multifaceted regulators of the CNS in health and disease

Abstract

Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) are the often-overlooked fourth glial cell type in the central nervous system (CNS), comprising about 5% of the CNS. For a long time, our vision of OPC function was limited to the generation of mature oligodendrocytes. However, new studies have highlighted the multifaceted nature of OPCs. During homeostatic and pathological conditions, OPCs are the most proliferative cell type in the CNS, a property not consistent with the need to generate new oligodendrocytes. Indeed, OPCs modulate neuronal activity and OPC depletion in the brain can trigger depressive-like behavior. More importantly, OPCs are actively recruited to injury sites, where they orchestrate glial scar formation and contribute to the immune response. The following is a comprehensive analysis of the literature on OPC function beyond myelination, in the context of the healthy and diseased adult CNS.

Keywords: Glial scar; Inflammation; Multiple sclerosis; Myelin; Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells.

Figure 1

The multiple functions of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in the central nervous system. Central panel represents a 3D rendering of an OPC in the cortex.