GPR17 Expressing NG2-Glia: Oligodendrocyte Progenitors Serving as a Reserve Pool After Injury

Vigano, Francesca; Schneider, Sarah; Cimino, Mauro; Bonfanti, Elisabetta; Gelosa, Paolo; Sironi, Luigi; Abbracchio, Maria P. and Dimou, Leda (2016): GPR17 Expressing NG2-Glia: Oligodendrocyte Progenitors Serving as a Reserve Pool After Injury. In: Glia, Vol. 64, No. 2: pp. 287-299

Abstract

In the adult brain NG2-glia continuously generate mature, myelinating oligodendrocytes. To which extent the differentiation process is common to all NG2-glia and whether distinct pools are recruited for repair under physiological and pathological conditions still needs clarification. Here, we aimed at investigating the differentiation potential of adult NG2-glia that specifically express the G-protein coupled receptor 17 (GPR17), a membrane receptor that regulates the differentiation of these cells at postnatal stages. To this aim, we generated the first BAC transgenic GPR17-iCreER(T2) mouse line for fate mapping studies. In these mice, under physiological conditions, GPR17(+) cells - in contrast to GPR17(-) NG2-glia - did not differentiate within 3 months, a peculiarity that was overcome after cerebral damage induced by acute injury or ischemia. After these insults, GPR17(+) NG2-glia rapidly reacted to the damage and underwent maturation, suggesting that they represent a 'reserve pool' of adult progenitors maintained for repair purposes.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Medicine
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health
• ISSN: 0894-1491
• Language: English