Wang Jianing, Shen Yu, Liao Ping, Yang Bowen, Jiang Ruotian
Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Jul 29;26(15):7336. doi: 10.3390/ijms26157336.
Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are a distinct and dynamic glial population that retain proliferative and migratory capacities throughout life. While traditionally recognized for differentiating into oligodendrocytes (OLs) and generating myelin to support rapid nerve conduction, OPCs are now increasingly appreciated for their diverse and non-canonical roles in the central nervous system (CNS), including direct interactions with neurons. A notable feature of OPCs is their expression of diverse ion channels that orchestrate essential cellular functions, including proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Given their widespread distribution across the CNS, OPCs are increasingly recognized as active contributors to the development and progression of various neurological disorders. This review aims to present a detailed summary of the physiological and pathological functions of ion channels in OPCs, emphasizing their contribution to CNS dysfunction. We further highlight recent advances suggesting that ion channels in OPCs may serve as promising therapeutic targets across a broad range of disorders, including, but not limited to, multiple sclerosis (MS), spinal cord injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), psychiatric disorders, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and neuropathic pain (NP). Finally, we discuss emerging therapeutic strategies targeting OPC ion channel function, offering insights into potential future directions in the treatment of CNS diseases.
少突胶质前体细胞（OPCs）是一种独特且动态的神经胶质细胞群体，其在整个生命周期中都保留着增殖和迁移能力。虽然传统上认为OPCs可分化为少突胶质细胞（OLs）并生成髓磷脂以支持快速神经传导，但现在人们越来越认识到OPCs在中枢神经系统（CNS）中具有多种非典型作用，包括与神经元的直接相互作用。OPCs的一个显著特征是它们表达多种离子通道，这些离子通道协调着包括增殖、迁移和分化在内的重要细胞功能。鉴于它们在中枢神经系统中的广泛分布，OPCs越来越被认为是各种神经系统疾病发生和发展的积极参与者。本综述旨在详细总结OPCs中离子通道的生理和病理功能，强调它们对中枢神经系统功能障碍的作用。我们进一步强调了最近的研究进展，这些进展表明OPCs中的离子通道可能成为治疗多种疾病的有前景的治疗靶点，包括但不限于多发性硬化症（MS）、脊髓损伤、肌萎缩侧索硬化症（ALS）、精神疾病、阿尔茨海默病（AD）和神经性疼痛（NP）。最后，我们讨论了针对OPC离子通道功能的新兴治疗策略，为中枢神经系统疾病治疗的潜在未来方向提供了见解。
