title: Role of adenosine in oligodendrocyte precursor maturation.
abstract: Differentiation and maturation of oligodendroglial cells are postnatal processes that involve specific morphological changes correlated with the expression of stage-specific surface antigens and functional voltage-gated ion channels. A small fraction of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) generated during development are maintained in an immature and slowly proliferative or quiescent state in the adult central nervous system (CNS) representing an endogenous reservoir of immature cells. Adenosine receptors are expressed by OPCs and a key role of adenosine in oligodendrocyte maturation has been recently recognized. As evaluated on OPC cultures, adenosine, by stimulating A1 receptors, promotes oligodendrocyte maturation and inhibits their proliferation; on the contrary, by stimulating A2A receptors, it inhibits oligodendrocyte maturation. A1 and A2A receptor-mediated effects are related to opposite modifications of outward delayed rectifying membrane K(+) currents (IK) that are involved in the regulation of oligodendrocyte differentiation. Brain A1 and A2A receptors might represent new molecular targets for drugs useful in demyelinating pathologies, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke and brain trauma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coppi
authors.affiliation: Department NEUROFARBA, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucrezia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cellai
authors.affiliation: Department NEUROFARBA, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maraula
authors.affiliation: Department NEUROFARBA, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dettori
authors.affiliation: Department NEUROFARBA, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Melani
authors.affiliation: Department NEUROFARBA, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pugliese
authors.affiliation: Department NEUROFARBA, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Felicita
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pedata
keywords: adenosine A1 receptors; adenosine A2A receptors; cell differentiation; oligodendrocyte progenitor cells; outward K+ currents