title: Oligodendrocyte progenitors: adult stem cells of the central nervous system?
abstract: Oligodendrocyte progenitors (OPs) are a major proliferating cell population within the adult CNS. In response to myelin loss or increasing demand, OPs have the capacity to differentiate into mature, myelinating oligodendrocytes. The name 'oligodendrocyte progenitor' suggests restriction to the oligodendrocyte cell lineage. However, with growing evidence of the lineage plasticity of OPs both in vitro and in vivo, we discuss whether they have potential beyond that expected of dedicated progenitor cells, and hence may justify categorization as adult stem cells.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QR; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 0SP; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK. Electronic address: ahc33@cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QR; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 0SP; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Stockley
authors.affiliation: Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London (UCL), Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK; Research Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London (UCL), Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.affiliation: Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London (UCL), Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK; Research Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London (UCL), Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QR; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 0SP; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.
authors.forename: R J M
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Franklin
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
keywords: Astrocyte; Multipotent; Neuron; Oligodendrocyte; Precursor cell; Progenitor cell; Regeneration; Remyelination; Schwann cell; Stem cell