• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.14-23
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• 2002

Development of oligodendrocytes and the generation of myelin internodes within the spinal cord depends on regional signals derived from the notochord and axonally derived signals. Neuregulin (NRG)-1, localized in the floor plate as well as in motor and sensory neurons, is necessary for normal oligodendrocyte development. Oligodendrocytes respond to NRGs by activating members of the erbB receptor tyrosine kinase family. Here, we show that erbB2 is not necessary for the early stages of oligodendrocyte precursor development, but is essential for proligodendroblasts to differentiate into galactosylcerebroside-positive (GalC+) oligodendrocytes. In the presence of erbB2, oligodendrocyte development is normal. In the absence of erbB2 (erbB2-/-), however, oligodendrocyte development is halted at the proligodendroblast stage with a >10-fold reduction in the number of GalC+ oligodendrocytes. ErbB2 appears to function in the transition of proligodendroblast to oligodendrocyte by transducing a terminal differentiation signal, since there is no evidence of increased oligodendrocyte death in the absence of erbB2. Furthermore, known survival signals for oligodendrocytes increase oligodendrocyte numbers in the presence of erbB2, but fail to do so in the absence of erbB2. Of the erbB2-/- oligodendrocytes that do differentiate, all fail to ensheath neurites. These data suggest that erbB2 is required for the terminal differentiation of oligodendrocytes and for development of myelin.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2021

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by presence of α-synuclein-positive inclusions in the cytoplasm of oligodendrocytes. These glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) are considered an integral part of the pathogenesis of MSA, leading to demyelination and neuronal demise. What is most puzzling in the research fields of GCIs is the origin of α-synuclein aggregates in GCIs, since adult oligodendrocytes do not express high levels of α-synuclein. The most recent leading hypothesis is that GCIs form via transfer and accumulation of α-synuclein from neurons to oligodendrocytes. However, studies regarding this subject are limited due to the absence of proper human cell models, to demonstrate the entry and accumulation of neuronal α-synuclein in human oligodendrocytes. Here, we generated mature human oligodendrocytes that can take up neuronderived α-synuclein and form GCI-like inclusions. Mature human oligodendrocytes are derived from neural stem cells via "oligosphere" formation and then into oligodendrocytes, treating the cells with the proper differentiation factors at each step. In the final cell preparations, oligodendrocytes consist of the majority population, while some astrocytes and unidentified stem cell-like cells were present as well. When these cells were exposed to α-synuclein proteins secreted from neuron-like human neuroblastoma cells, oligodendrocytes developed perinuclear inclusion bodies with α-synuclein immunoreactivity, resembling GCIs, while the stem cell-like cells showed α-synuclein-positive, scattered puncta in the cytoplasm. In conclusion, we have established a human oligodendrocyte model for the study of GCI formation, and the characterization and use of this model might pave the way for understanding the pathogenesis of MSA.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.119-130
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• 2006

To investigate the role of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) in the normal aging process, aging-related morphometric and ultrastructural analyses of the MAG-positive (MAG-(+)) oligodendrocytes were carried out in the cerebral cortex of the Sprague-Dawley rats. In the aged rats, the density of MAG-(+) oligodendrocytes was significantly decreased in the cortical layer (IV-VI) compared with that of the adult rats. However, the percentage of medium and dark types of oligodendrocytes was significantly increased by aging. In the aged rats, the mean nuclear area of the MAG-(-) oligodendrocytes was interestingly reduced compared with that of MAG-(+) oligodendrocytes. In addition, MAG immunoreactive products were markedly decreased in the medium-dark type of oligodendroglial cytoplasm and processes, and were scarcely localized in the dark type of oligodendrocytes of the aged rats. These results suggest that degeneration of oligodendrocytes-myelin system by aging is associated with down regulation of MAG, and that may contribute to further understanding of the biology of MAG in the oligodendrocytes-myelin system.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 1991

The mechanisms of demyelination in Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV)-induced chronic central nervous system(CNS) disease are still unclear and are probably multifactoral. This study was intended to culture spinal cord cells isolated from TMEV-induced demyelinating mice. By Percoll density centrifugation of enzymatically dissociated tissue, the cells were collected and then cultured on poly-L-lysine-coated plastic coverslips for 2 weeks. Oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and macrophages were identified using cell-type specific markers. Viral antigens were not present in oligodendrocytes and in astrocytes by double immunofluorescence. Affected mouse oligodendrocytes had less capacities of sheet formation and galactocerebroside immunoreactivity than those of control cell 3. These findings support the hypothesis that immune mediated mechanisms play an important role in the process of demyelination in this animal model.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.47-54
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• 2015

In the past decade, structural, molecular, and functional changes in glial cells have become a major focus in the search for the neurobiological foundations of schizophrenia. Glial cells, consisting of oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, microglia, and nerve/glial antigen 2-positive cells, constitute a major cell population in the central nervous system. There is accumulating evidence of reduced numbers of oligodendrocytes and altered expression of myelin/oligodendrocyte-related genes that might explain the white matter abnormalities and altered inter- and intra-hemispheric connectivities that are characteristic signs of schizophrenia. Astrocytes play a key role in the synaptic metabolism of neurotransmitters ; thus, astrocyte dysfunction may contribute to certain aspects of altered neurotransmission in schizophrenia. Increased densities of microglial cells and aberrant expression of microglia-related surface markers in schizophrenia suggest that immunological/inflammatory factors are of considerable relevance to the pathophysiology of psychosis. This review describes current evidence for the multifaceted role of glial cells in schizophrenia and discusses efforts to develop glia-directed therapies for the treatment of the disease.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.281-293
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• 1997

The effects of antimetabolite, 6-aminonicotinamide (6-AN), on ultrastrudural changes in the spinal cord of golden hamster were investigated. Intraperitoneal administration of 6-AN (10 mg/kg body weight) every two days gave rise to a marked reduction of about $30\sim40%$ in body weight after $26\sim28$ days ($13\sim14th$ injection). In the lesions of the spinal cord, neuroglial cells such as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes were severely damaged, but neurons and blood vessels were not affected by 6-AN. The myelin sheath was also affected by 6-AN. Vacuoles observed in the lesions were produced by the swelling and degenerating changes of neuropils and neuroglial cells. Numerous swollen mitochondria and cisterns of rough endoplasmic reticulum were observed in the watery cytoplasm of damaged neuroglial cells, but intermediate filaments were well preserved. Especially in the damaged astrocytes, the outer nuclear membrane were partially swollen and formed a halfmoonlike structure. It is suggested that as well as the multivesicular bodies protruding from the swollen dendrites, the conjugation of adjacent vacuoles also participated in the formation of large vacuoles.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.166.1-166.1
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• 2006

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.14-25
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• 2022

Glia have been known for its pivotal roles in physiological and pathological conditions in the nervous system. To study glial biology, multiple approaches have been applied to utilize glial cells for research, including stem cell-based technologies. Human glial cells differentiated from pluripotent stem cells are now available, allowing us to study the structural and functional roles of glia in the nervous system, although the efficiency is still low. Direct conversion is an advanced strategy governing fate conversion of diverse cell types directly into the desired lineage. This novel strategy stands as a promising approach for preliminary research and regenerative medicine. Direct conversion employs genetic and environmental cues to change cell fate to that with the required functional cell properties while retaining maturity-related molecular features. As an alternative method, it is now possible to obtain a variety of mature cell populations that could not be obtained using conventional differentiation methods. This review summarizes current achievements in obtaining glia, particularly oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.93-100
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• 2012

Cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and adaptation to environmental changes are regulated by protein phosphorylation. In order to enhance the understanding of molecular dynamics for biological process in detail, it is necessary to develop sensitive and comprehensive analytical methods for the determination of protein phosphorylation. Neural stem cells hold great promise for neural repair following an injury or disease. In this study, we made differentiated oligodendrocytes from human neural stem cells using over-expression of olig2 gene. We confirmed using quantitative phosphoproteome analysis approach that combines stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) and $TiO_2$ micro-column for phosphopeptide enrichment with $MS^2$ and $MS^3$ mass spectrometry. We detected 275 phosphopeptides which were modulated at least 2-fold between human neural stem cells and oligodendrocytes. Among them, 23 phosphoproteins were up-regulated in oligodendrocytes and 79 phosphoproteins were up-regulated in F3 cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.530-534
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• 1996

Astrocyte are the major glial cell type in the central nervous system (CNS), and analogous to macrophage, mediates the number of immune responses such as production of cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) upon activation. $TNF-{\alpha}$ has been implicated in neuroimmunological disorders through killing oligodendrocytes and thus causing demyelination. It has been previously demonstrated that mitogen-activated T cells synthesized a 26 kDa precursor form of $TNF-{\alpha}$ which is bound to the surface of a membrane, and is later secreted as a 17 kDa mature version. In order to examine whether astrocytes would produce the transmembrane form of $TNF-{\alpha}$, astrocytes were stimulated with biological stimuli and the membrane form of $TNF-{\alpha}$ was analyzed by Western blot and FACS analysis. When astrocytes are stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), $IFN-{\gamma}/LPS$, or $IFN-{\gamma}/IL-1{\beta}$, they were able to express a membrane-anchored $TNF-{\alpha}$ of approximately 26 kDa protein which was immunoreactive to an $anti-TNF-{\alpha}$ antibody, whereas unstimulated astrocytes or astrocytes treated with $IFN-{\gamma}$ or $IL-1{\beta}$ alone was not. Our FACS data were also consistent with the immunoblot analysis. Our result suggests that the membrane form of $TNF-{\alpha}$ expressed by activated astrocytes may cause local damage to oligodendrocytes by direct cell-cell contact and contribute to demyelination observed in multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE).