The Roles Of The Rap2a In The Differentiation Of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells

Glial cells and neurons is the major part of the central nervous system,and in the central nervous system,oligodendrocytes will form myelin sheath by arounding axon of neurons,that to make the electrical signals deliver fast and effectively in the central nervous system.Being injuried,oligodendrocytes will cause a series of neurological diseases,researching the oligodendrocytes development mechanism will help to provide effective strategies for the treatment of these diseases.Through in situ hybridization technique,we found that the gene Rap2 a specifically expressed in the white matter of the spinal cord in mice.Then we knocked down or over expressed the Rap2 a in the oligodendrocyte precursor cells(OPCs),we found that when Rap2 a increased,oligodendrocytes differentiated in advanced,conversely,when Rap2 a decreased,oligodendrocytes differentiated lingeringly.Ras can combine with PI3 K that is the downstream effect factors of Ras,which can activate the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway to promote the differentiation of oligodendrocytes,Rap2 a is the member of the Ras superfamily,it can also combine with the PI3 K to activate PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.Taken together,we will conclude that Rap2 a may combine with PI3 K to activate PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway,and affect the differentiation of oligodendrocytes.