Role of growth factors and their interplay during oligodendroglial differentiation and maturation.

Oligodendrocytes (OLs) facilitate the myelination within the central nervous system (CNS). Neuronal axons are originally devoid of myelin and acquire myelination during development. OLs are derived from oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) during development, and this ability to differentiate persists throughout maturity. The abnormal differentiation of oligodendrocytes leads to various neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases characterized by disruptions in myelin formation, which is crucial for proper nerve function. In order to develop suitable strategies for their treatments an intimate knowledge of oligodendrocytes differentiation and maturation processes is a pre-requisite. Numerous unique growth factors like PDGF, IGF-1, FGF, etc. function at different phases of lineage specification. The activity of these factors, in turn, is influenced by synergy with other molecules, such as chemokines to control the proliferation of OL precursor cells. The role of growth factors in oligodendrogenesis needs to be revisited constantly with the regular inflow of studies on OL development. An understanding of how different growth factors influence oligodendrogenesis will facilitate their recruitment in stem cell therapy protocols, in vivo studies on OPC and OL development. The end goal of such studies is to enhance neuroregeneration in various demyelinating pathological illnesses. We provide an overview of the research carried out on the role of growth factors on differentiation and maturation of oligodendrocytes. Besides, efforts have been made to identify areas requiring further investigation.