Table 2.
Functions of OLIG proteins
| OLIG1 | OLIG2 | OLIG1 + 2 | OLIG3 | References | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Developmental | |||||
| Spinal cord patterning | − | + | +++ | − | 14, 15 |
| Expansion of progenitor pool | − | +++ | +++ | − | 39 |
| Specification of motor neurons | − | +++ | +++ | − | 14, 15 |
| Specification of other neurons | − | + | + | +++ | 29, 42, 123, 125 |
| Specification of NG2-positive glia | − | +++ | NT | NT | 124 |
| Specification of oligodendrocytes | +/− | ++ | +++ | − | 14, 15 |
| Maturation of oligodendrocytes | + | NT | NT | − | 14 |
| Postnatal | |||||
| Malignant glioma | +/− | +++ | +++ | NT | 39, 57 |
| Myelin repair | +++ | NT | NT | NT | 25 |
| Reactive gliosis | − | +++ | NT | NT | 49 |
| Down syndrome | NT | NT | +++ | NT | 29 |
| Alzheimer's / Schizophrenia* | NT | + | NT | NT | 26-28 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis* | NT | NT | NT | + | 126, 127 |
*
Genome wide association studies correlate certain OLIG2 single nucleotide polymorphisms to these disorders. These observations have not progressed beyond the correlative level.
Function (arbitrary units) ranging from no involvement (−) to essential for the specific process (+++). NT not tested.