REGULATION OF OLIGODENDROCYTE CELL-SURVIVAL AND DIFFERENTIATION BY CILIARY NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR, LEUKEMIA INHIBITORY FACTOR, ONCOSTATIN-M, AND INTERLEUKIN-6

The regulation and maintenance of developmental lineages by trophic fa ctors, both cell-mediated and soluble, is a key aspect of cellular dif ferentiation in the nervous system. In this review we focus on oligode ndrocytes and their progenitors and how differentiation and survival a re regulated by four neuropoietic cytokines: ciliary neurotrophic fact or, leukemia inhibitory factor, oncostatin M, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) . We discuss how these cytokines act as ''broad spectrum'' factors. Th at is, how, even within a specific cell lineage, a given cytokine may have different effects on the target cells at various stages of differ entiation.