Epigenetics in NG2 glia cells

•Epigenetic regulation includes DNA methylation, chromatin and non-coding RNA changes.•It affects the transcriptional landscape of NG2 glial cell.•Epigenetic changes of nuclear structural components define transitions in NG2 cells.•Epigenetic dysregulation can result in defective myelin repair or gliomas formation.•Modulation of epigenetic marks can be explored as therapeutic strategy for NG2 cells.

The interplay of transcription and epigenetic marks is essential for oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) proliferation and differentiation during development. Here, we review the recent advances in this field and highlight mechanisms of transcriptional repression and activation involved in OPC proliferation, differentiation and plasticity. We also describe how dysregulation of these epigenetic events may affect demyelinating disorders, and consider potential ways to manipulate NG2 cell behavior through modulation of the epigenome.This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI:NG2-glia(Invited only).