Wigley Rebekah, Butt Arthur M
Institute for Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, UK.
Neuron Glia Biol. 2009 May;5(1-2):21-8. doi: 10.1017/S1740925X09990329. Epub 2009 Sep 29.
NG2-glia are a distinct class of CNS glial cells that are generally classed as oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. However, in the adult CNS a large fraction of NG2 cells does not appear to divide or generate oligodendrocytes. The functions of these adult NG2-glia, which we have termed synantocytes, are unknown. NG2-glia (synantocytes) form interactive domains with astrocytes and neurons. Within their domains, NG2-glia and astrocytes contact the same neurons, form multiple heterologous contacts with each other, and contact pericytes which regulate cerebral blood flow. NG2-glia receive presynaptic input from neurons and respond to neurotransmitters released at synapses. In addition, NG2-glia are intimately associated with astroglia and respond to astroglial signals, a hitherto neglected aspect of NG2-glial cell physiology. The non-overlapping domain organisation of astrocytes is believed to be important in isolating and integrating activity at the synapses and blood vessels within their domains. The domains of NG2-glia overlap with astrocytes, suggesting they could play a role in integrating non-overlapping astrocyte domains.
NG2胶质细胞是中枢神经系统（CNS）中一类独特的胶质细胞，通常被归类为少突胶质前体细胞。然而，在成年中枢神经系统中，很大一部分NG2细胞似乎并不分裂或生成少突胶质细胞。我们将这些成年NG2胶质细胞称为联合细胞，其功能尚不清楚。NG2胶质细胞（联合细胞）与星形胶质细胞和神经元形成相互作用域。在其作用域内，NG2胶质细胞和星形胶质细胞接触相同的神经元，彼此形成多个异源接触，并与调节脑血流量的周细胞接触。NG2胶质细胞接收来自神经元的突触前输入，并对突触处释放的神经递质作出反应。此外，NG2胶质细胞与星形胶质细胞密切相关，并对星形胶质细胞信号作出反应，这是NG2胶质细胞生理学中一个迄今被忽视的方面。星形胶质细胞的非重叠作用域组织被认为在隔离和整合其作用域内突触和血管的活动方面很重要。NG2胶质细胞的作用域与星形胶质细胞重叠，表明它们可能在整合非重叠的星形胶质细胞作用域中发挥作用。
