Differentiation of rat oligodendrocyte precursor cells in chemical conditional medium in vitro

Objective: To investigate in vitro differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) into mature oligodendrocytes in chemical conditional medium. Methods: The mixed glial cells from cerebral cortices of 48-hour-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were cultured in vitro. The OPCs were separated by shaking procedure around 9–10 d in the primary culture. Then the isolated OPCs were further transferred into the chemical conditional medium for cell differentiation. The pattern of OPCs maturation in vitro was continuously observed with contrast phase microscopy and mature oligodendrocytes were further identified by immunocytochemical assays. Results: OPCs grew well when co-cultured with glial cells and distinct cellular stratification formed about 9–10 d in the primary culture, which indicated the appropriate opportunity for the separation of OPCs. Following cultured in the chemical conditional medium, the OPCs progressively differentiated into the mature oligodendrocytes. These mature oligodendrocytes were also immunostained with the oligodendrocyte lineage-specific antibody, Oligo2. Conclusion: The OPCs isolated from the cerebral cortices of neonatal SD rats can progressively differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes in the chemical conditional medium in vitro.

Oligodendrocytes in central nervous system diseases:the effect of cytokine regulation

Cytokines including tumor necrosis factor, interleukins, interferons, and chemokines are abundantly produced in various diseases. As pleiotropic factors, cytokines are involved in nearly every aspect of cellular functions such as migration, survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Oligodendrocytes are the myelin-forming cells in the central nervous system and play critical roles in the conduction of action potentials, supply of metabolic components for axons, and other functions. Emerging evidence suggests that both oligodendrocytes and oligodendrocyte precursor cells are vulnerable to cytokines released under pathological conditions. This review mainly summarizes the effects of cytokines on oligodendrocyte lineage cells in central nervous system diseases. A comprehensive understanding of the effects of cytokines on oligodendrocyte lineage cells contributes to our understanding of central nervous system diseases and offers insights into treatment strategies.

Myt1L Promotes Differentiation of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells and is Necessary for Remyelination After Lysolecithin-Induced Demyelination

The differentiation and maturation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells(OPCs) is essential for myelination and remyelination in the CNS. The failure of OPCs to achieve terminal differentiation in demyelinating lesions often results in unsuccessful remyelination in a variety of human demyelinating diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling OPC differentiation under pathological conditions remain largely unknown. Myt1 L(myelin transcription factor 1-like), mainly expressed in neurons,has been associated with intellectual disability, schizophrenia, and depression. In the present study, we found that Myt1 L was expressed in oligodendrocyte lineage cells during myelination and remyelination. The expression level of Myt1 L in neuron/glia antigen 2-positive(NG2+)OPCs was significantly higher than that in mature CC1+oligodendrocytes. In primary cultured OPCs,overexpression of Myt1 L promoted, while knockdown inhibited OPC differentiation. Moreover, Myt1 L was potently involved in promoting remyelination after lysolecithin-induced demyelination in vivo. Ch IP assays showed that Myt1 L bound to the promoter of Olig1 and transcriptionally regulated Olig1 expression. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that Myt1 L is an essential regulator of OPC differentiation, thereby supporting Myt1 L as a potential therapeutic target for demyelinating diseases.

New insights into the immunologic role of oligodendrocyte lineage cells in demyelination diseases

Oligodendrocyte lineage cells(OL-lineage cells)are a cell population that are crucial for mammalian central nervous system(CNS)myelination.OL-lineage cells go through developmental stages,initially differentiating into oligodendrocyte precursor cells(OPCs),before becoming immature oligodendrocytes,then mature oligodendrocytes(OLs).While the main function of cell lineage is in myelin formation,and increasing number of studies have turned to explore the immunological characteristics of these cells.Initially,these studies focused on discovering how OPCs and OLs are affected by the immune system,and then,how these immunological changes influence the myelination process.However,recent studies have uncovered another feature of OL-lineage cells in our immune systems.It would appear that OL-lineage cells also express immunological factors such as cytokines and chemokines in response to immune activation,and the expression of these factors changes under various pathologic conditions.Evidence suggests that OL-lineage cells actually modulate immune functions.Indeed,OL-lineage cells appear to play both"victim"and"agent"in the CNS which raises a number of questions.Here,we summarize immunologic changes in OL-lineage cells and their effects,as well as consider OL-lineage cell changes which influence immune cells under pathological conditions.We also describe some of the underlying mechanisms of these changes and their effects.Finally,we describe several studies which use OL-lineage cells as immunotherapeutic targets for demyelination diseases.

Star power: harnessing the reactive astrocyte response to promote remyelination in multiple sclerosis

Astrocytes are indispensable for central nervous system development and homeostasis.In response to injury and disease,astrocytes are integral to the immunological-and the,albeit limited,repair response.In this review,we will examine some of the functions reactive astrocytes play in the context of multiple sclerosis and related animal models.We will consider the heterogeneity or plasticity of astrocytes and the mechanisms by which they promote or mitigate demyelination.Finally,we will discuss a set of biomedical strategies that can stimulate astrocytes in their promyelinating response.

Oligodendrocyte pathology in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

The pathology of fetal alcohol syndrome and the less severe fetal alcohol spectrum disorders includes brain dysmyelination.Recent studies have shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying these white matter abnormalities.Rodent models of fetal alcohol syndrome and human studies have shown suppressed oligodendrocyte differentiation and apoptosis of oligodendrocyte precursor cells.Ethanol exposure led to reduced expression of myelin basic protein and delayed myelin basic protein expression in rat and mouse models of fetal alcohol syndrome and in human histopathological specimens.Several studies have reported increased expression of many chemokines in dysmyelinating disorders in central nervous system,including multiple sclerosis and fetal alcohol syndrome.Acute ethanol exposure reduced levels of the neuroprotective insulin-like growth factor-1 in fetal and maternal sheep and in human fetal brain tissues,while ethanol increased the expression of tumor necrosis factor α in mouse and human neurons.White matter lesions have been induced in the developing sheep brain by alcohol exposure in early gestation.Rat fetal alcohol syndrome models have shown reduced axon diameters,with thinner myelin sheaths,as well as reduced numbers of oligodendrocytes,which were also morphologically aberrant oligodendrocytes.Expressions of markers for mature myelination,including myelin basic protein,also were reduced.The accumulating knowledge concerning the mechanisms of ethanol-induced dysmyelination could lead to the development of strategies to prevent dysmyelination in children exposed to ethanol during fetal development.Future studies using fetal oligodendrocyte-and oligodendrocyte precursor cell-derived exosomes isolated from the mother's blood may identify biomarkers for fetal alcohol syndrome and even implicate epigenetic changes in early development that affect oligodendrocyte precursor cell and oligodendrocyte function in adulthood.By combining various imaging modalities with molecular studies,it may be possible to determine which fetuses are at risk and to intervene therapeutically early in the pregnancy.

Effect of glial cells on remyelination after spinal cord injury

Remyelination plays a key role in functional recovery of axons after spinal cord injury.Glial cells are the most abundant cells in the central nervous system.When spinal cord injury occurs,many glial cells at the lesion site are immediately activated,and different cells differentially affect inflammatory reactions after injury.In this review,we aim to discuss the core role of oligodendrocyte precursor cells and crosstalk with the rest of glia and their subcategories in the remyelination process.Activated astrocytes influence proliferation,differentiation,and maturation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells,while activated microglia alter remyelination by regulating the inflammatory reaction after spinal cord injury.Understanding the interaction between oligodendrocyte precursor cells and the rest of glia is necessary when designing a therapeutic plan of remyelination after spinal cord injury.

Distinct immune escape and microenvironment between RG-like and pri-OPC-like glioma revealed by single-cell RNA-seq analysis

The association of neurogenesis and gliogenesis with glioma remains unclear.By conducting single-cell RNA-seq analyses on 26 gliomas,we reported their classification into primitive oligodendrocyte precursor cell(pri-OPC)-like and radial glia(RG)-like tumors and validated it in a public cohort and TCGA glioma.The RG-like tumors exhibited wild-type isocitrate dehydrogenase and tended to carry EGFR mutations,and the pri-OPC-like ones were prone to carrying TP53 mutations.Tumor subclones only in pri-OPC-like tumors showed substantially down-regulated MHC-I genes,suggesting their distinct immune evasion programs.Furthermore,the two subgroups appeared to extensively modulate glioma-infiltrating lymphocytes in distinct manners.Some specific genes not expressed in normal immune cells were found in glioma-infiltrating lymphocytes.For example,glial/glioma stem cell markers OLIG1/PTPRZ1 and B cell-specific receptors IGLC2/IGKC were expressed in pri-OPC-like and RG-like glioma-infiltrating lymphocytes,respectively.Their expression was positively correlated with those of immune checkpoint genes(e.g.,LGALS33)and poor survivals as validated by the increased expression of LGALS3 upon IGKC overexpression in Jurkat cells.This finding indicated a potential inhibitory role in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and could provide a new way of cancer immune evasion.

The mechanism of Naringin-enhanced remyelination after spinal cord injury

Our previous study revealed that intragastric administration of naringin improved remyelination in rats with spinal cord injury and promoted the recovery of neurological function of the injured spinal cord.This study sought to reveal the mechanisms by which naringin improves oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation and maturation,and promotes remyelination.Spinal cord injury was induced in rats by the weight-drop method.Naringin was intragastrically administered daily（20,40 mg/kg） for 4 weeks after spinal cord injury induction.Behavioral assessment,histopathological staining,immunofluorescence spectroscopy,ultrastructural analysis and biochemical assays were employed.Naringin treatment remarkably mitigated demyelination in the white matter,increased the quality of myelinated nerve fibers and myelin sheath thickness,promoted oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation by upregulating the expression of NKx2.2 and 2′3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase,and inhibited β-catenin expression and glycogen synthase kinase-3β（GSK-3β） phosphorylation.These findings indicate that naringin treatment regulates oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation and promotes remyelination after spinal cord injury through the β-catenin/GSK-3β signaling pathway.

Progenies of NG2 glia: what do we learn from transgenic mouse models ?

In the mammalian central nervous system,nerve-glia antigen 2(NG2)glia are considered the fourth glial population in addition to astrocytes,oligodendrocytes and microglia.The fate of NG2 glia in vivo has been carefully studied in several transgenic mouse models using the Cre/loxP strategy.There is a clear agreement that NG2 glia mainly serve as progenitors for oligodendrocytes and a subpopulation of astrocytes mainly in the ventral forebrain,whereas the existence of a neurogenic potential of NG2 glia is lack of adequate evidence.This mini review summarizes the findings from recent studies regarding the fate of NG2 glia during development.We will highlight the age-and-region-dependent heterogeneity of the NG2 glia differentiation potential.We will also discuss putative reasons for inconsistent findings in various transgenic mouse lines of previous studies.

LINGO-1 and AMIGO3, potential therapeutic targets for neurological and dysmyelinating disorders？

Leucine rich repeat proteins have gained considerable interest as therapeutic targets due to their expression and biological activity within the central nervous system. LINGO-1 has received particular attention since it inhibits axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury in a Rho A dependent manner while inhibiting leucine rich repeat and immunoglobulin-like domain-containing protein 1（LINGO-1） disinhibits neuron outgrowth. Furthermore, LINGO-1 suppresses oligodendrocyte precursor cell maturation and myelin production. Inhibiting the action of LINGO-1 encourages remyelination both in vitro and in vivo. Accordingly, LINGO-1 antagonists show promise as therapies for demyelinating diseases. An analogous protein to LINGO-1, amphoterin-induced gene and open reading frame-3（AMIGO3）, exerts the same inhibitory effect on the axonal outgrowth of central nervous system neurons, as well as interacting with the same receptors as LINGO-1. However, AMIGO3 is upregulated more rapidly after spinal cord injury than LINGO-1. We speculate that AMIGO3 has a similar inhibitory effect on oligodendrocyte precursor cell maturation and myelin production as with axogenesis. Therefore, inhibiting AMIGO3 will likely encourage central nervous system axonal regeneration as well as the production of myelin from local oligodendrocyte precursor cell, thus providing a promising therapeutic target and an area for future investigation.

Neuroprotection and neuroregeneration:roles for the white matter

Efficient strategies for neuroprotection and repair are still an unmet medical need for neurodegenerative diseases and lesions of the central nervous system.Over the last few decades,a great deal of attention has been focused on white matter as a potential therapeutic target,mainly due to the discovery of the oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the adult central nervous system,a cell type able to fully repair myelin damage,and to the development of advanced imaging techniques to visualize and measure white matter lesions.The combination of these two events has greatly increased the body of research into white matter alte rations in central nervous system lesions and neurodegenerative diseases and has identified the oligodendrocyte precursor cell as a putative target for white matter lesion repair,thus indirectly contributing to neuroprotection.This review aims to discuss the potential of white matter as a therapeutic target for neuroprotection in lesions and diseases of the central nervous system.Pivot conditions are discussed,specifically multiple scle rosis as a white matter disease;spinal cord injury,the acute lesion of a central nervous system component where white matter prevails over the gray matte r,and Alzheimer's disease,where the white matter was considered an ancilla ry component until recently.We first describe oligodendrocyte precursor cell biology and developmental myelination,and its regulation by thyroid hormones,then briefly describe white matter imaging techniques,which are providing information on white matter involvement in central nervous system lesions and degenerative diseases.Finally,we discuss pathological mechanisms which interfere with myelin repair in adulthood.

Effect of type-2 astrocytes on the viability of dorsal root ganglion neurons and length of neuronal processes

The role of type-2 astrocytes in the repair of central nervous system injury remains poorly un- derstood. In this study, using a relatively simple culture condition in vitro, type-2 astrocytes, differentiated from oligodendrocyte precursor cells by induction with bone morphogenetic pro- tein-4, were co-cultured with dorsal root ganglion neurons. We examined the effects of type-2 astrocytes differentiated from oligodendrocyte precursor cells on the survival and growth of dorsal root ganglion neurons. Results demonstrated that the number of dorsal root ganglion neurons was higher following co-culture of oligodendrocyte precursor cells and type-2 astrocytes than when cultured alone, but lower than that of neurons co-cultured with type-1 astrocytes. The length of the longest process and the length of all processes of a single neuron were shortest in neurons cultured alone, followed by neurons co-cultured with type-2 astroc^es, then neurons co-cultured with oligodendrocyte precursor cells, and longest in neurons co-cultured with type-1 astrocytes. These results indicate that co-culture with type-2 astrocytes can increase neuronal survival rate and process length. However, compared with type-1 astrocytes and oligodendrocyte precursor cells, the promotion effects of type-2 astrocytes on the growth of dorsal root ganglion neurons were weaker.

Expression of NG2 and platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha in the developing neonatal rat brain

Platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha （PDGFRct） is a marker of oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the central nervous system. NG2 is also considered a marker of oligodendrocyte precursor cells. However, whether there are differences in the distribution and morphol- ogy of oligodendrocyte precursor cells labeled by NG2 or PDGFRa in the developing neonatal rat brain remains unclear. In this study, by immunohistochemical staining, NG2 positive （NG2＋） cells were ubiquitous in the molecular layer, external pyramidal layer, internal pyramidal layer, and polymorphic layer of the cerebral cortex, and corpus callosum, external capsule, piriform cortex, and medial septal nucleus. NG2~ cells were stellate or fusiform in shape with long processes that were progressively decreased and shortened over the course of brain development. The distribution and morphology of PDGFRct positive （PDGFRa＋） cells were coincident with NG2＋ cells. The co- localization of NG2 and PDGFRu in the cell bodies and processes of some cells was confirmed by double immunofluorescence labeling. Moreover, cells double-labeled for NG2 and PDGFRa were predominantly in the early postnatal stage of development. The numbers of NG2＋/PDGFRa＋ cells and PDGFRa＋ cells decreased, but the number of NG2＋ cells increased from postnatal days 3 to 14 in the developing brain. In addition, amoeboid microglial cells of the corpus callosum, newborn brain macrophages in the normal developing brain, did not express NG2 or PDGFRu, but NG2 expression was detected in amoeboid microglia after hypoxia. The present results suggest that NG2 and PDGFRct are specific markers of oligodendrocyte precursor cells at different stages during early development. Additionally, the NG2 protein is involved in inflammatory and pathological processes of amoeboid microglial cells.

Roles of NG2 Glia in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

Cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD)is one of the most prevalent pathologic processes affecting 5%of people over 50 years of age and contributing to 45%of dementia cases.Increasing evidence has demonstrated the pathological roles of chronic hypoperfusion,impaired cerebral vascular reactivity,and leakage of the blood–brain barrier in CSVD.However,the pathogenesis of CSVD remains elusive thus far,and no radical treatment has been developed.NG2 glia,also known as oligodendrocyte precursor cells,are the fourth type of glial cell in addition to astrocytes,microglia,and oligodendrocytes in the mammalian central nervous system.Many novel functions for NG2 glia in physiological and pathological states have recently been revealed.In this review,we discuss the role of NG2 glia in CSVD and the underlying mechanisms.

Conditional Deletion of Foxg1 Alleviates Demyelination and Facilitates Remyelination via the Wnt Signaling Pathway in Cuprizone-Induced Demyelinated Mice

The massive loss of oligodendrocytes caused by various pathological factors is a basic feature of many demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system(CNS). Based on a variety of studies, it is now well established that impairment of oligodendrocyte precursor cells(OPCs) to differentiate and remyelinate axons is a vital event in the failed treatment of demyelinating diseases. Recent evidence suggests that Foxg1 is essential for the proliferation of certain precursors and inhibits premature neurogenesis during brain development. To date, very little attention has been paid to the role of Foxg1 in the proliferation and differentiation of OPCs in demyelinating diseases of the CNS. Here, for the first time, we examined the effects of Foxg1 on demyelination and remyelination in the brain using a cuprizone(CPZ)-induced mouse model. In this work, 7-week-old Foxg1 conditional knockout and wild-type(WT) mice were fed a diet containing 0.2% CPZ w/w for 5 weeks, after which CPZ was withdrawn to enable remyelination. Our results demonstrated that, compared with WT mice, Foxg1-knockout mice exhibited not only alleviated demyelination but also accelerated remyelination of the demyelinated corpus callosum. Furthermore, we found that Foxg1 knockout decreased the proliferation of OPCs and accelerated their differentiation into mature oligodendrocytes both in vivo and in vitro. Wnt signaling plays a critical role in development and in a variety of diseases. GSK-3 b, a key regulatory kinase in the Wnt pathway, regulates the ability of b-catenin to enter nuclei, where it activates the expression of Wnt target genes. We then used SB216763,a selective inhibitor of GSK-3 b activity, to further demonstrate the regulatory mechanism by which Foxg1 affects OPCs in vitro. The results showed that SB216763 clearly inhibited the expression of GSK-3 b, which abolished the effect of the proliferation and differentiation of OPCs caused by the knockdown of Foxg1. These results suggest that Foxg1 is involved in the proliferation and differentiation of OPCs through the Wnt signaling pathway. The present experimental results are some of the first to suggest that Foxg1 is a new therapeutic target for the treatment of demyelinating diseases of the CNS.