Oligodendrocytes are highly specialized glial cells, responsible for producing myelin in the central nervous system (CNS). The multi-stage process of oligodendrocyte development is tightly regulated to ensure proper lineage progression of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) to mature myelin producing oligodendrocytes. This developmental process involves complex interactions between several intrinsic signaling pathways that are modulated by an array of extrinsic factors. Understanding these regulatory processes is of crucial importance, as it may help to identify specific molecular targets both to enhance plasticity in the normal CNS and to promote endogenous recovery following injury or disease. This review describes two major regulators that play important functional roles in distinct phases of oligodendrocyte development: OPC proliferation and differentiation. Specifically, we highlight the roles of the extracellular astrocyte/radial glia-derived protein Endothelin-1 in OPC proliferation and the intracellular Akt/mTOR pathway in OPC differentiation. Lastly, we reflect on how recent advances in neuroscience and scientific technology will enable greater understanding into how intrinsic and extrinsic regulators interact to generate oligodendrocyte diversity.

少突胶质细胞是高度特化的神经胶质细胞，负责在中枢神经系统 (CNS) 中产生髓磷脂。少突胶质细胞发育的多阶段过程受到严格调控，以确保少突胶质细胞祖细胞 (OPCs) 向成熟的产生髓鞘的少突胶质细胞的适当谱系进展。这一发展过程涉及由一系列外在因素调节的几个内在信号通路之间的复杂相互作用。了解这些调节过程至关重要，因为它可能有助于确定特定的分子靶点，以增强正常 CNS 的可塑性并促进损伤或疾病后的内源性恢复。本综述描述了在少突胶质细胞发育的不同阶段发挥重要功能作用的两个主要调节因子：OPC 增殖和分化。具体来说，我们强调了细胞外星形胶质细胞/放射状胶质细胞衍生蛋白 Endothelin-1 在 OPC 增殖中的作用以及细胞内 Akt/mTOR 通路在 OPC 分化中的作用。最后，我们反思神经科学和科学技术的最新进展如何能够更好地理解内在和外在调节剂如何相互作用以产生少突胶质细胞多样性。