OLIG2 [MD245R]

Oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (OLIG2) is a transcription factor with basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) domains that have fundamental roles in neuronal and glial production. It is required for oligodendrocyte and motor neuron specification in the spinal cord, as well as for the development of somatic motor neurons in the hindbrain. As a result, it plays a critical role in motor neuron and oligodendrocyte fate specification during development. It cooperates with OLIG1 to establish the pMN domain of the embryonic neural tube. The expression of OLIG2 is normally restricted to neural tissues; however, overexpression of OLIG2 has been shown in patients with precursor T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia. OLIG2 is a useful marker for the identification of oligodendroglioma. The expression level of OLIG2 in anaplastic oligodendrogliomas was more uniform and intense than in other glial tumors. Several primary brain tumors with clear cell histology, oligodendroglioma (OG), clear cell ependymoma (CCE) and central neurocytoma (CN) show different clinical and biological behavior; thus, prognosis and therapeutic approaches differ significantly. Anti-OLIG2 is useful in discriminating OG or dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNTs, OLIG2 positive) from CCE, CN and clear cell meningioma that are mostly negative for OLIG2.