Platelet-derived growth factor-alpha receptor-positive oligodendroglia are frequent in multiple sclerosis lesions.
Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) ligand is a potent glial cell mitogen. When its cognate receptor (PDGF-alphaR) is expressed on oligodendroglial lineage cells, such cells are considered capable of division, and the receptor thus serves as a phenotypic marker for oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Here we identify using immunohistochemistry a considerably enlarged, PDGF-alphaR-expressing oligodendrocyte cell population within multiple sclerosis (MS) white matter lesions compared to control brains. Numerous PDGF-alphaR-positive oligodendroglia also colabel heavily with the nuclear cell proliferation marker antibody Ki-67. Our finding of large numbers of proliferating oligodendroglia in MS brains expressing up-regulated PDGF-alphaR suggests that these progenitor-like cells represent an important source of regenerating cells for the healing MS lesion.
Maeda
Y
Y
Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange 07019, USA.
Solanky
M
M
Menonna
J
J
Chapin
J
J
Li
W
W
Dowling
P
P
D015087:2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases / Q000032:analysis; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001344:Autopsy; D002455:Cell Division; D048429:Cell Size; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha; D015087:2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases