Molecular Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany.
J Anat. 2011 Jul;219(1):2-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2011.01359.x. Epub 2011 Mar 13.
NG2-expressing glia are precursors to oligodendrocytes and subpopulations of astrocytes. They are unique among glial cells in that they enter into synaptic specialisations with neurons throughout all areas of grey and white matter and at all ages. To date, the NG2 cells appear to represent a postsynaptic compartment, and synapses are formed with axons. With differentiation to oligodendrocytes, NG2 is downregulated and myelin antigens upregulated: this coincides with a loss of the synaptic contacts between neurons and NG2 glial cells. The functional roles of this glial-neuron synapse in regulation of differentiation into myelinating oligodendrocytes or additionally responding to and modulating neuronal network activity remain to be elucidated.
表达 NG2 的神经胶质细胞是少突胶质细胞和星形胶质细胞亚群的前体细胞。它们在神经胶质细胞中是独一无二的，因为它们在灰质和白质的所有区域以及所有年龄段都与神经元形成突触特化。迄今为止，NG2 细胞似乎代表了一个突触后区室，并且与轴突形成突触。随着向少突胶质细胞的分化，NG2 下调，髓鞘抗原上调：这与神经元和 NG2 胶质细胞之间的突触接触丧失一致。这种胶质-神经元突触在调节分化为髓鞘形成的少突胶质细胞或另外响应和调节神经元网络活动中的功能作用仍有待阐明。
