A glial precursor cell population from mammalian central nervous system has been
isolated. These A2B5+ E-NCAM- glial-restricted precursor
(GRP) cells are capable of differentiating into oligodendrocytes, A2B5+
process-bearing astrocytes, and A2B5- fibroblast-like astrocytes, but
not into neurons. GRP cells can be maintained by regeneration in culture. GRP cells
differ from oligodendrocyte-type-2 astrocyte (O-2A) progenitor cells in growth
factor requirements, morphology, and progeny. Methods of use of GRP cells are also disclosed.
