Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells' fate after neonatal asphyxia-Puzzling implications for the development of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Premature birth or complications during labor can cause temporary disruption of cerebral blood flow, often followed by long-term disturbances in brain development called hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephalopathy. Diffuse damage to the white matter is the most frequently detected pathology in this condition. We hypothesized that oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) differentiation disturbed by mild neonatal asphyxia may affect the viability, maturation, and physiological functioning of oligodendrocytes.

Reactive Gliosis in Neonatal Disorders: Friend or Foe for Neuroregeneration?

A developing nervous system is particularly vulnerable to the influence of pathophysiological clues and injuries in the perinatal period. Astrocytes are among the first cells that react to insults against the nervous tissue, the presence of pathogens, misbalance of local tissue homeostasis, and a lack of oxygen and trophic support. Under this background, it remains uncertain if induced astrocyte activation, recognized as astrogliosis, is a friend or foe for progressing neonatal neurodevelopment.

G protein-coupled receptor 17 is regulated by WNT pathway during oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation.

G protein-coupled receptor 17 (GPR17) and the WNT pathway are critical players of oligodendrocyte (OL) differentiation acting as essential timers in developing brain to achieve fully-myelinating cells. However, whether and how these two systems are related to each other is still unknown. Of interest, both factors are dysregulated in developing and adult brain diseases, including white matter injury and cancer, making the understanding of their reciprocal interactions of potential importance for identifying new targets and strategies for myelin repair.

Pearls and Pitfalls of Isolating Rat OPCs for In Vitro Culture with Different Methods.

There are several in vitro models to study the biology of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). The use of models based on induced pluripotent stem cells or oligodendrocyte-like cell lines has many advantages but raises significant questions, such as inaccurate reproduction of neural tissue or genetic instability. Moreover, in a specific case of studying the biology of neonatal OPCs, it is particularly difficult to find good representative model, due to the unique metabolism and features of these cells, as well as neonatal brain tissue.

Upconverting Nanoparticles as a New Bio-Imaging Strategy-Investigating Intracellular Trafficking of Endogenous Processes in Neural Tissue.

In recent years, rare-earth-doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) have been widely used in different life sciences due to their unique properties. Nanoparticles have become a multifunctional and promising new approach to neurobiological disorders and have shown extraordinary application potential to overcome the problems related to conventional treatment strategies. This study evaluated the internalization mechanisms, bio-distribution, and neurotoxicity of NaYF:20%Yb,2%Er UCNPs in rat organotypic hippocampal slices.

Neonatal Rat Glia Cultured in Physiological Normoxia for Modeling Neuropathological Conditions In Vitro.

Cell culture conditions were proven to highly affect crucial biological processes like proliferation, differentiation, intercellular crosstalk, and senescence. Oxygen tension is one of the major factors influencing cell metabolism and thus, modulating cellular response to pathophysiological conditions. In this context, the presented study aimed at the development of a protocol for efficient culture of rat neonatal glial cells (microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes) in oxygen concentrations relevant to the nervous tissue.

Oligodendrocyte Response to Pathophysiological Conditions Triggered by Episode of Perinatal Hypoxia-Ischemia: Role of IGF-1 Secretion by Glial Cells.

Differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitors towards myelinating cells is influenced by a plethora of exogenous instructive signals. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is one of the major factors regulating cell survival, proliferation, and maturation. Recently, there is an ever growing recognition concerning the role of autocrine/paracrine IGF-1 signaling in brain development and metabolism.

Directed glial differentiation and transdifferentiation for neural tissue regeneration.

Glial cells which are indispensable for the central nervous system development and functioning, are proven to be vulnerable to a harmful influence of pathological cues and tissue misbalance. However, they are also highly sensitive to both in vitro and in vivo modulation of their commitment, differentiation, activity and even the fate-switch by different types of bioactive molecules. Since glial cells (comprising macroglia and microglia) are an abundant and heterogeneous population of neural cells, which are almost uniformly distributed in the brain and the spinal cord parenchyma, they all create a natural endogenous reservoir of cells for potential neurogenerative processes required to be initiated in response to pathophysiological cues present in the local tissue microenvironment.

The Differentiation of Rat Oligodendroglial Cells Is Highly Influenced by the Oxygen Tension: In Vitro Model Mimicking Physiologically Normoxic Conditions.

Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) constitute one of the main populations of dividing cells in the central nervous system (CNS). Physiologically, OPCs give rise to mature, myelinating oligodendrocytes and confer trophic support to their neighboring cells within the nervous tissue. OPCs are known to be extremely sensitive to the influence of exogenous clues which might affect their crucial biological processes, like survival, proliferation, differentiation, and the ability to generate a myelin membrane.

Impact of neonatal hypoxia-ischaemia on oligodendrocyte survival, maturation and myelinating potential.

Hypoxic-ischaemic episodes experienced at the perinatal period commonly lead to a development of neurological disabilities and cognitive impairments in neonates or later in childhood. Clinical symptoms often are associated with the observed alterations in white matter in the brains of diseased children, suggesting contribution of triggered oligodendrocyte/myelin pathology to the resulting disorders. To date, the processes initiated by perinatal asphyxia remain unclear, hampering the ability to develop preventions.

Therapeutic Strategies for Leukodystrophic Disorders Resulting from Perinatal Asphyxia: Focus on Myelinating Oligodendrocytes.

Perinatal asphyxia results from the action of different risk factors like complications during pregnancy, preterm delivery, or long and difficult labor. Nowadays, it is still the leading cause of neonatal brain injury known as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and resulting neurological disorders. A temporal limitation of oxygen, glucose, and trophic factors supply results in alteration of neural cell differentiation and functioning and/or leads to their death.

The occurrence of allergic illnesses among children at the pre-school age in the rural and urban area.

Allergic diseases have become recently an accretive medical as well as social problem, mainly in highly developed countries. Frequently they occur in the infancy and early childhood. In this analysis an attempt has been made to evaluate the occurrence of the allergic illnesses among 3-5 years old children living in the urban and rural environment.