title: Role of the cellular prion protein in oligodendrocyte precursor cell proliferation and differentiation in the developing and adult mouse CNS.
abstract: There are numerous studies describing the signaling mechanisms that mediate oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) proliferation and differentiation, although the contribution of the cellular prion protein (PrP(c)) to this process remains unclear. PrP(c) is a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored glycoprotein involved in diverse cellular processes during the development and maturation of the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Here we describe how PrP(c) influences oligodendrocyte proliferation in the developing and adult CNS. OPCs that lack PrP(c) proliferate more vigorously at the expense of a delay in differentiation, which correlates with changes in the expression of oligodendrocyte lineage markers. In addition, numerous NG2-positive cells were observed in cortical regions of adult PrP(c) knockout mice, although no significant changes in myelination can be seen, probably due to the death of surplus cells.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Catalonian Institute for Bioengineering (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bribián
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: Franc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Llorens
authors.forename: Rosalina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gavín
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reina
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: García-Verdugo
authors.forename: Juan María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Castro
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: del Río
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008954:Models, Biological; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D055495:Neurogenesis; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018621:PrPC Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018621:PrPC Proteins