Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia (BO), Italy.
Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia (BO), Italy.
Molecules. 2020 Jan 23;25(3):503. doi: 10.3390/molecules25030503.
Myelin is the main component of the white matter of the central nervous system (CNS), allowing the proper electrical function of the neurons by ensheathing and insulating the axons. The extensive use of magnetic resonance imaging has highlighted the white matter alterations in Alzheimer's dementia (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases, alterations which are early, extended, and regionally selective. Given that the white matter turnover is considerable in the adulthood, and that myelin repair is currently recognized as being the only true reparative capability of the mature CNS, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), the cells that differentiate in oligodendrocyte, responsible for myelin formation and repair, are regarded as a potential target for neuroprotection. In this review, several aspects of the OPC biology are reviewed. The histology and functional role of OPCs in the neurovascular-neuroglial unit as described in preclinical and clinical studies on AD is discussed, such as the OPC vulnerability to hypoxia-ischemia, neuroinflammation, and amyloid deposition. Finally, the position of OPCs in drug discovery strategies for dementia is discussed.
髓鞘是中枢神经系统（CNS）白质的主要成分，通过包绕和隔离轴突来实现神经元的正常电功能。磁共振成像的广泛应用凸显了阿尔茨海默病（AD）和其他神经退行性疾病的白质改变，这些改变具有早期、广泛和区域选择性。鉴于成年期的白质周转率相当高，并且髓鞘修复目前被认为是成熟中枢神经系统唯一真正的修复能力，少突胶质前体细胞（OPC），即分化为少突胶质细胞、负责髓鞘形成和修复的细胞，被视为神经保护的潜在靶点。在这篇综述中，我们回顾了 OPC 生物学的几个方面。讨论了在 AD 的临床前和临床研究中，OPC 在神经血管-神经胶质单元中的组织学和功能作用，如 OPC 对缺氧缺血、神经炎症和淀粉样蛋白沉积的易感性。最后，讨论了 OPC 在痴呆症药物发现策略中的地位。
