NG2 cells and their neurogenic potential

Abstract

NG2 cells, which comprise a cycling population of glial cells, appear in the early phases of development and are present in the adult central nervous system. When a specific subpopulation of NG2 cells give rise to myelinating oligodendrocytes, they are also termed as oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Considering their capacity to proliferate and differentiate into other cellular types, their fate has been extensively investigated in several genetically modified mice. It is generally accepted that NG2 cells are restricted to the oligodendrocyte lineage, but numerous reports describe their differentiation into astrocytes or even neurons. Here, we summarize studies that can prove and also disprove possible neurogenesis from NG2 cells in the different regions of the brain and spinal cord, with the main emphasis on the developmental stages and pathological conditions.