bHLH transcription factor Olig1 is required to repair demyelinated lesions in the CNS.
Olig1 and Olig2 are closely related basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors that are expressed in myelinating oligodendrocytes and their progenitor cells in the developing central nervous system (CNS). Olig2 is necessary for the specification of oligodendrocytes, but the biological functions of Olig1 during oligodendrocyte lineage development are poorly understood. We show here that Olig1 function in mice is required not to develop the brain but to repair it. Specifically, we demonstrate a genetic requirement for Olig1 in repairing the types of lesions that occur in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Arnett
Heather A
HA
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Fancy
Stephen P J
SP
Alberta
John A
JA
Zhao
Chao
C
Plant
Sheila R
SR
Kaing
Sovann
S
Raine
Cedric S
CS
Rowitch
David H
DH
Franklin
Robin J M
RJ
Stiles
Charles D
CD
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003471:Cuprizone / Q000494:pharmacology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004996:Ethidium / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000076104:Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D003471:Cuprizone; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004996:Ethidium; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000076104:Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2; D014157:Transcription Factors; C405707:OLIG1 protein, human; C405708:OLIG2 protein, human; C494786:Olig1 protein, mouse; C498633:Olig1 protein, rat; C512773:Olig2 protein, mouse