Table 1:
Transcription factors that play a role in oligodendrocyte development and a brief summary of their role in oligodendrocyte lineage cells, myelination, and remyelination.
| Protein | Role in OL development | Effect of its ablation | Role in remyelination |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASCL | Plays a role in OPC formation [104] and OL differentiation [105]. | Reduced number of OPCs [104] and reduced number of OLs [105] | Required for proper remyelination [106] |
| HES1 | Maintains cells as OPCs and inhibits differentiation [107]. | ND | ND |
| HES5 | Maintains cells as OPCs and inhibits differentiation [107]. | Premature OPC differentiation [108] | ND |
| ID2 | Maintains cells as OPCs and inhibits differentiation [109] | Premature OPC differentiation [110] | ND |
| ID4 | Maintains cells as OPCs and inhibits differentiation [109] | Premature OPC differentiation [111] | ND |
| KLF9 | Promotes OPC differentiation in vitro [112]. | No effect [112]. | Important for remyelination [112]. |
| MYRF | Crucial for OPC differentiation [18] | Normal OPCs and loss of OLGs [18]. | Important for remyelination [113] |
| MYT1 | Plays a role in OPC proliferation and OL differentiation [114] | ND | ND |
| NFAT proteins | Promotes OPC differentiation [14] | OL lineage specific ablation of Calcineurin inhibits OPC differentiation [14] | ND |
| NFIA | Controls OPC formation [115] | ND | Inhibits OPC differentiation during remyelination [116] |
| NKX2.2 | Plays a role in OPC differentiation [117]. | No effect on OPCs, loss of OLs [117]. | ND |
| NKX6.1 | Play a role in OPC formation [118] | Reduced number of OL lineage cells [119] | ND |
| NKX6.2 | Plays a role in OPC formation [118] | Paranodal defects [120] | ND |
| OLIG1 | Delayed OPC differentiation [121] | Depends on the experimental system: Normal numbers of OPCs and reduced number of OLs [122] or no change in OL numbers [121] | Important for remyelination [123] |
| OLIG2 | Important for OL lineage cells [124] | Ablation at the OPC stage results in hypomyelination, while ablation at premature OL stage expedites myelination [125] | Olig2 gain of function at the OPC stage promotes remyelination [126] |
| SOX2 and SOX3 | Play a role in OL differentiation [127] | Impairs OL differentiation [127] | ND |
| SOX4 | Promote OPC differentiation [128] | Lethal, however no overt CNS defects in the embryo [129] | ND |
| SOX5 and SOX6 | Inhibit OPC differentiation [130] | Premature OPC differentiation [130] | ND |
| SOX8 | Controls gliogenesis [131] | Loss of OPCs [131]. | ND |
| SOX9 | Controls gliogenesis [132]. | Loss of OPCs [132]. | ND |
| SOX10 | Plays a role in OL differentiation [133] | Normal OPCs, loss of OLs [133] | ND |
| SOX17 | Plays a role in OPC differentiation [134,135] | ND | Overexpression increases the number of OLs and improves remyelination [136] |
| SREBP proteins | Promote OPC differentiation [137] | No change in OPCs, educed number of OLs [36] | ND |
| TCF7L2 | Promotes OPC differentiation [27,43,138] | Reduced number of OLs [27,43,138] | ND |
| YY1 | Plays a role in OL differentiation [139]. | Prevents OL differentiation [139]. | ND |
| ZBTB7A | Modulates the expression of transcripts important for myelination [140]. | Normal numbers of OPCs and OLs [140]. | Important for remyelination [140]. |
| ZEB2 | Plays a role in OPC differentiation [141]. | Reduced number of OLs [141]. | ND |
| ZFP24 | Plays a role in OL differentiation [21] | Hypomyelination with normal numbers of OPCs and OLs [77] | ND |
| ZFP488 | Promotes OPC differentiation [142] | ND | Promotes OPC differentiation during remyelination [143] |
Legend: OL, oligodendrocyte; ND, not determined.