Control of oligodendrocyte generation and proliferation by Shp2 protein tyrosine phosphatase

Extracellular signals play essential roles in controlling the proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in the developing central nervous system. However, the intracellular pathways that transduce these extrinsic signals remain to be elucidated. In this study, we showed that conditional ablation of the nonreceptor tyrosine phosphatase Shp2 in Olig1-expressing oligodendrocyte lineage resulted in dramatic reduction in the generation and proliferation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in the spinal cord. Maturation and myelination of oligodendrocytes were also compromised in the Shp2 mutants. The deficits in oligodendrocyte development in Shp2 mutants nearly phenocopied those observed in PDGF-A mutants, suggesting that Shp2 is a crucial component in transducing PDGF-A signals in the control of oligodendrocyte proliferation and maturation.