Researchers are one step closer to demonstrating the potential of a brain molecule called fractalkine to halt and even reverse the effects of multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the myelin, or fatty lining of nerve cells, is eroded, leading to nerve damage and slower signalling between the brain and the body. MS symptoms range from blurred vision to complete paralysis, and while there are treatments, the causes are not fully understood and nothing exists to reverse the disease process.
In new research published in Stem Cell Reports, researchers injected fractalkine into mice with chemically induced MS.
They found the treatment increased the number of new oligodendrocytes — vital brain and spinal cord cells that produce myelin in both embryonic and adult brains — which are damaged during the MS autoimmune attack.
“If we can replace those lost or damaged oligodendrocytes, then they could make new myelin and it is believed that would halt the disease progression, or maybe even reverse some of the symptoms,” the senior author says. “That's the Holy Grail in the research community and something that we're very passionate about.”
The authors earlier research tested the safety and efficacy of fractalkine in normal mice and found similar beneficial effects. Other researchers have demonstrated that fractalkine may provide protection for nerves in mouse models before the disease is induced, but this is the first time it has been tested on animals that already have the disease.
The team observed new oligodendrocytes, as well as reactivated progenitor cells that can regenerate oligodendrocytes, in the brains of the treated animals. Remyelination occurred in both the white and grey matter.
The researchers also observed a reduction in inflammation, part of the damage caused by the immune system. Next steps for the treatment include testing it in other diseased mouse models, including those with neurodegenerative diseases other than MS.
https://www.cell.com/stem-cell-reports/fulltext/S2213-6711(22)00590-2
http://sciencemission.com/site/index.php?page=news&type=view&id=publications%2Ffractalkine-enhances&filter=22
Fractalkine triggers brain repair in MS
- 994 views
- Added
Latest News
Why frequent cannabis users…
By newseditor
Posted 02 Jun
Induction of fetal meiotic…
By newseditor
Posted 01 Jun
Skin cancer rewires its ene…
By newseditor
Posted 01 Jun
Running throughout middle a…
By newseditor
Posted 01 Jun
Type 2 diabetes drug could…
By newseditor
Posted 01 Jun
Other Top Stories
How brain maintains cognitive flexibility
Read more
Low-protein high-carb diet shows promise for healthy brain aging
Read more
Effects of early education intervention on behavior persist for 4 d…
Read more
Helios, a key transcriptional regulator implicated in age-related h…
Read more
Somatic APP gene recombination in Alzheimer's disease and normal ne…
Read more
Protocols
Metaboverse enables automat…
By newseditor
Posted 02 Jun
Ratphones: An Affordable To…
By newseditor
Posted 31 May
BigNeuron: A resource to be…
By newseditor
Posted 29 May
Designed active-site librar…
By newseditor
Posted 27 May
A microfluidics-enabled aut…
By newseditor
Posted 22 May
Publications
Adolescent exposure to low-…
By newseditor
Posted 02 Jun
The P-body protein 4E-T rep…
By newseditor
Posted 02 Jun
The E3 ubiquitin ligase FBX…
By newseditor
Posted 01 Jun
AMPK is a mechano-metabolic…
By newseditor
Posted 01 Jun
Heart rate variability duri…
By newseditor
Posted 01 Jun
Presentations
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
By newseditor
Posted 12 Apr
Lipids
By newseditor
Posted 31 Dec
Cell biology of carbohydrat…
By newseditor
Posted 29 Nov
RNA interference (RNAi)
By newseditor
Posted 23 Oct
RNA structure and functions
By newseditor
Posted 19 Oct
Posters
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES R…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 10 Mar
ASCO-2020-GYNECOLOGIC CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 10 Mar