中国神经再生研究(英文版) ›› 2024, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (2): 473-474.doi: 10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-24-00062

• 观点:神经损伤修复保护与再生 • 上一篇    下一篇

探索少突胶质细胞前体细胞在吞噬作用中的新作用:超越髓鞘形成

  

  • 出版日期:2025-02-15 发布日期:2024-06-18

Exploring the novel role of oligodendrocyte precursor cells in phagocytosis: beyond myelinogenesis

Gen Hamanaka*, Ken Arai*   

  1. Neuroprotection Research Laboratories, Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
  • Online:2025-02-15 Published:2024-06-18
  • Contact: Gen Hamanaka, PhD,ghamanaka@mgh.harvard.edu; Ken Arai, PhD,karai@partners.org.
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported in part by National Institutes of Health, Nos. 5R01NS113556-05 and 1R21NS128310-01 (to KA).

摘要: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0957-2817 (Gen Hamanaka)
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1615-3258 (Ken Arai)

Abstract: Roles of oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the central nervous system: Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) have long been recognized for their critical role as precursors to oligodendrocytes, the primary myelin- producing cells. As precursors, OPCs mature and differentiate into oligodendrocytes, which contribute significantly to the formation of myelin sheaths around axons. This myelination, which is critical for the conduction of salutatory nerve impulses in the cerebral white matter, underscores the classical role of oligodendrocytes in central nervous system (CNS) functionality. Importantly, because oligodendrocytes are differentiated cells that cannot proliferate, OPCs are responsible for increasing and maintaining the number of oligodendrocytes. In addition, a subset of OPCs is known to remain in their precursor state even in the adult brain. In response to developmental cues or brain injury, OPCs exhibit remarkable plasticity – migrating to specific brain regions, proliferating, and differentiating into mature, functional oligodendrocytes.