NG2-glia, also called Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells (OPCs), account for approximately 5%-10% of the cells in the developing and adult brain and constitute the fifth major cell population in the central nervous system. NG2-glia express receptors and ion channels involved in rapid modulation of neuronal activities and signaling with neuronal synapses, which have functional significance in both physiological and pathological states. NG2-glia participate in quick signaling with peripheral neurons via direct synaptic touches in the developing and mature central nervous system. These distinctive glia perform the unique function of proliferating and differentiating into oligodendrocytes in the early developing brain, which is critical for axon myelin formation. In response to injury, NG2-glia can proliferate, migrate to the lesions, and differentiate into oligodendrocytes to form new myelin sheaths, which wrap around damaged axons and result in functional recovery. The capacity of NG2-glia to regulate their behavior and dynamics in response to neuronal activity and disease indicate their critical role in myelin preservation and remodeling in the physiological state and in repair in the pathological state. In this review, we provide a detailed summary of the characteristics of NG2-glia, including their heterogeneity, the regulators of their proliferation, and the modulators of their differentiation into oligodendrocytes.

NG2-神经胶质细胞，也称为少突胶质前体细胞（OPC），约占发育中和成年大脑中细胞的5％-10％，并构成中枢神经系统中的第五大主要细胞群。NG2-神经胶质细胞表达受体和离子通道，参与神经元活动的快速调节和神经元突触的信号传导，在生理和病理状态下均具有功能意义。NG2-神经胶质细胞通过发育中和成熟的中枢神经系统中的直接突触接触参与周围神经元的快速信号传导。这些独特的神经胶质细胞在早期发育的大脑中具有增殖和分化为少突胶质细胞的独特功能，这对于轴突髓磷脂的形成至关重要。NG2-神经胶质细胞可因损伤而增殖，迁移至病变，并分化为少突胶质细胞，形成新的髓鞘，包裹在受损的轴突周围，从而恢复功能。NG2-神经胶质细胞调节其行为和动力学以响应神经元活动和疾病的能力表明了它们在生理状态下髓鞘的保存和重塑以及病理状态下的修复中的关键作用。在这篇综述中，我们提供了NG2-神经胶质细胞的特征的详细摘要，包括它们的异质性，其增殖的调节剂以及它们分化为少突胶质细胞的调节剂。NG2-神经胶质细胞调节其行为和动力学以响应神经元活动和疾病的能力表明了它们在生理状态下髓鞘的保存和重塑以及病理状态下的修复中的关键作用。在这篇综述中，我们提供了NG2-神经胶质细胞的特征的详细摘要，包括它们的异质性，其增殖的调节剂以及它们分化为少突胶质细胞的调节剂。NG2-神经胶质细胞调节其行为和动力学以响应神经元活动和疾病的能力表明了它们在生理状态下髓鞘的保存和重塑以及病理状态下的修复中的关键作用。在这篇综述中，我们提供了NG2-神经胶质细胞的特征的详细摘要，包括它们的异质性，其增殖的调节剂以及它们分化为少突胶质细胞的调节剂。