The Notch Signaling Pathway Regulates Differentiation of NG2 Cells into Oligodendrocytes in Demyelinating Diseases.

NG2 cells are highly proliferative glial cells that can self-renew or differentiate into oligodendrocytes, promoting remyelination. Following demyelination, the proliferative and differentiation potentials of NG2 cells increase rapidly, enhancing their differentiation into functional myelinating cells. Levels of the transcription factors Olig1 and Olig2 increase during the differentiation of NG2 cells and play important roles in the development and repair of oligodendrocytes. However, the ability to generate new oligodendrocytes is hampered by injury-related factors (e.g., myelin fragments, Wnt and Notch signaling components), leading to failed differentiation and maturation of NG2 cells into oligodendrocytes. Here, we review Notch signaling as a negative regulator of oligodendrocyte differentiation and discuss the extracellular ligands, intracellular pathways, and key transcription factors involved.