Immune–stem cell crosstalk in the central nervous system: how oligodendrocyte progenitor cells interact with immune cells

• Published in: Immunology and cell biology 2023-01, Vol.101 (1), p.25-35
• Main Authors: Cabeza‐Fernández, Sonia, White, Jessica A, McMurran, Christopher E, Gómez‐Sánchez, José A, Fuente, Alerie G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brain stem; Cell Differentiation; Central Nervous System; Glial stem cells; Homeostasis; Humans; Immune system; Immunomodulation; Inflammation; macrophages; microglia; Myelin; Nervous system; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neuroinflammatory Diseases; Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells - physiology; Oligodendroglia; OPCs; Progenitor cells; Regeneration; remyelination; Stem Cells; T cells
• ISSN: 0818-9641; 1440-1711
• DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12610

The interaction between immune and stem cells has proven essential for homeostasis and regeneration in a wide range of tissues. However, because the central nervous system was long considered an immune‐privileged organ, its immune–stem cell axis was not deeply investigated until recently. Research has shown that oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), a highly abundant population of adult brain stem cells, establish bidirectional interactions with the immune system. Here, we provide an overview of the interactions that OPCs have with tissue‐resident and recruited immune cells, paying particular attention to the role they play in myelin regeneration and neuroinflammation. We highlight the described role of OPCs as key active players in neuroinflammation, overriding the previous concept that OPCs are mere recipients of immune signals. Understanding the mechanisms behind this bidirectional interaction holds great potential for the development of novel therapeutic approaches limiting neuroinflammation and promoting myelin repair. A better understanding of the central nervous system's immune–stem cell axis will also be key for tackling two important features shared across neurodegenerative diseases, neuroinflammation and myelin loss. In this review, we discuss the bidirectional interaction between oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and the immune system in central nervous system health and disease. We focus on describing two main aspects: (a) how immune cells regulate OPC biology and their regenerative capacity, and (b) describe the novel immune regulatory roles of OPCs. Understanding the crosstalk between OPCs and the immune system will open new avenues for tackling neuroinflammatory diseases.