Impact of the Olig Family on Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Jenny Szu; Alexandre Wojcinski; Peng Jiang; Santosh Kesari; Santosh Kesari

doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.659601

Frontiers in Neuroscience (Mar 2021)

Impact of the Olig Family on Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Jenny Szu,
Alexandre Wojcinski,
Peng Jiang,
Santosh Kesari,
Santosh Kesari

Affiliations

Jenny Szu: Department of Translational Neurosciences and Neurotherapeutics, Saint John’s Cancer Institute, Providence Saint John’s Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, United States
Alexandre Wojcinski: Department of Translational Neurosciences and Neurotherapeutics, Saint John’s Cancer Institute, Providence Saint John’s Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, United States
Peng Jiang: Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
Santosh Kesari: Department of Translational Neurosciences and Neurotherapeutics, Saint John’s Cancer Institute, Providence Saint John’s Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, United States
Santosh Kesari: Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Providence Saint John’s Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, United States

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2021.659601
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15

Abstract

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The Olig genes encode members of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors. Olig1, Olig2, and Olig3 are expressed in both the developing and mature central nervous system (CNS) and strictly regulate cellular specification and differentiation. Extensive studies have established functional roles of Olig1 and Olig2 in directing neuronal and glial formation during different stages in development. Recently, Olig2 overexpression was implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders down syndrome (DS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but its influence on cognitive and intellectual defects remains unknown. In this review, we summarize the biological functions of the Olig family and how it uniquely promotes cellular diversity in the CNS. This is followed up with a discussion on how abnormal Olig2 expression impacts brain development and function in DS and ASD. Collectively, the studies described here emphasize vital features of the Olig members and their distinctive potential roles in neurodevelopmental disease states.

Published in Frontiers in Neuroscience

ISSN: 1662-4548 (Print); 1662-453X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Website: http://www.frontiersin.org/neuroscience

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Abstract

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