Expression of the anaphylatoxin C5a receptor in the oligodendrocyte lineage

Expression of the C5a receptor in the central nervous system has been demon strated on microglia, astrocytes and neurons. In the present study, we demo nstrate C5aR expression in vitro by rat and murine O2-A progenitor cells an d oligodendrocytes. We also observed that in vitro differentiation of O2-A progenitors into mature oligodendrocytes is accompanied by down-regulation of C5aR mRNA expression. These results suggest that the C5aR may be a marke r for oligodendroglial differentiation and play a role in oligodendrocyte f unction. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.