Role of Perivascular Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells in Angiogenesis After Brain Ischemia

Background Oligodendrocyte precursor cells ( OPC s) regulate neuronal, glial, and vascular systems in diverse ways and display phenotypic heterogeneity beyond their established role as a reservoir for mature oligodendrocytes. However, the detailed phenotypic changes of OPC s after cerebral ischemia remain largely unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate the roles of reactive OPC s in the ischemic brain. Methods and Results The behavior of OPC s was evaluated in a mouse model of ischemic stroke produced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in vivo. For in vitro experiments, the phenotypic change of OPC s after oxygen glucose derivation was examined using a primary rat OPC culture. Furthermore, the therapeutic potential of hypoxic OPC s was evaluated in a mouse model of middle cerebral artery occlusion in vivo. Perivascular OPC s in the cerebral cortex were increased alongside poststroke angiogenesis in a mouse model of middle cerebral artery occlusion. In vitro RNA -seq analysis revealed that primary cultured OPC s increased the gene expression of numerous pro-angiogenic factors after oxygen glucose derivation. Hypoxic OPC s secreted a greater amount of pro-angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin-1, compared with normoxic OPC s. Hypoxic OPC -derived conditioned media increased the viability and tube formation of endothelial cells. In vivo studies also demonstrated that 5 consecutive daily treatments with hypoxic OPC -conditioned media, beginning 2 days after middle cerebral artery occlusion, facilitated poststroke angiogenesis, alleviated infarct volume, and improved functional disabilities. Conclusions Following cerebral ischemia, the phenotype of OPC s in the cerebral cortex shifts from the parenchymal subtype to the perivascular subtype, which can promote angiogenesis. The optimal use of hypoxic OPC s secretome would provide a novel therapeutic option for stroke.