Expression of the low-affinity neurotrophin receptor, p75NTR, is upregulated by oligodendroglial progenitors adjacent to the subventricular zone in response to demyelination

Abstract

Precursor cells have the capacity to repopulate the demyelinated brain, but the molecular mechanisms that facilitate their recruitment are largely unknown. The low-affinity neurotrophin receptor, p75NTR, may be one of these regulators; however, its expression profile by oligodendroglia within the multiple sclerosis (MS) brain remains uncertain. We therefore assessed the expression profile of this receptor within 8 MS and 4 control brains. We found no evidence of expression of p75NTR by mature oligodendrocytes. Instead, we demonstrated the presence of p75NTR on a subgroup of NG2-positive oligodendroglial progenitors in a periventricular plaque in one MS sample. Notably, p75NTR-expressing cell..