Human Brain Oligodendrocyte Progenitor cells (OPCs)

Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) are a subtype of glial cells found in the central nervous system (CNS) that play a vital role in developing and repairing the myelin sheath. They are the primary precursor cells that give rise to oligodendrocytes, which wrap around axons to provide electrical insulation and facilitate the rapid propagation of action potentials.

OPCs are characterized by their small, bipolar, or multipolar shapes and by dynamic processes that constantly survey their local environment. In the adult human brain, OPCs make up approximately 3-4% of cells in grey matter and 8-9% of cells in white matter. They maintain their population through self-renewal and serve as a reservoir for remyelination following injury or in demyelinating diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS).