February 28, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD ACTRIMS 2023: Astrocyte receptors may help to ease MS cognitive issues Activating certain receptors on astrocytes ā a type of nerve support cell ā may offer a way of treating cognitive problems in multiple sclerosis (MS), according to recent research. MS mouse models genetically engineered to lack these receptors, called TNFR2, showed signs of greater cognitive problems, whereas cognitive gains…
January 16, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Therapeutic Target for Inflammation Driven by Astrocytes Seen Using a new approach, researchers have identified new signaling molecules that regulate the activation of certain subsets of astrocytes thought to drive inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS). The new methodology, called FIND-seq, enables the selection of single cells from a sample based on the expression of specific genes and…
May 11, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Treatment With XPro1595 Promotes Remyelination in Mouse Model The experimental therapy XPro1595 was found to promote remyelination ā the repair of the myelin sheath ā in a mouse model of myelin loss, new data show. Myelin, the fatty covering that helps nerve fibers send electrical signals, is damaged by the immune system inĀ …
February 25, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #ACTRIMS2022 ā Blocking Fibulin-2 Protein May Increase Remyelination A matrix protein called fibulin-2, which is increased in multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions, blocks the activity of oligodendrocytes, the cells responsible for making myelin. Blocking this protein may be a promising approach to restore myelin in people with the neurodegenerative disease, a study in mice showed. The data was…
September 15, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Chronic Inflammation in MS Linked to Specific Brain Cells in Study An interaction between immune cells and glia cells in the brain, mediated by the C1q complement system protein, appears to drive chronic inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS), new research shows. Inhibiting this protein helped to resolve inflammation in mouse models of MS and in tissue cultures, its researchers found.
February 19, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD MS-linked Molecule IL-17 Impaired Immune Cells in Mice’s Brains Sustained, excessive levels of interleukin 17A (IL-17A) ā a pro-inflammatory molecule linked to multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) and other autoimmune diseases ā reduce the number and activity of the brainās immune cells in the dentate gyrus, according to a study in mice. The dentate gyrus is part of the hippocampus, a…
January 28, 2021 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Newly ID’d Group of Astrocytes Seen to Help Prevent Brain Inflammation A newly identified subset of astrocytes ā cells long thought to be responsible for simply providing nutrition and support to neurons ā can prevent brain inflammation by promoting the destruction of pro-inflammatory immune T-cells, scientistsĀ report. Their work also found that the anti-inflammatory activity of this astrocyte subpopulation is dependent on…
June 5, 2020 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Ability to ‘Create’ Astrocytes Supports Their Damaging Role in MS, Like Diseases An inflammatory environment can turn astrocytes, key supportive cells for neurons, into their killers, fostering the progression of neurodegenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study shows. This work, led by researchers at the New York Stem Cell FoundationĀ (NYSCF), created for a first time astrocytes derived…
February 18, 2020 News by Ana Pena PhD How Astrocytes Promote Inflammation in Patients’ Brain Detailed in Early Study Using brain tissue from people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and mouse models of MS, scientists identified a key pathway that drivesĀ astrocytesĀ to promote inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. The study, “MAFG-driven astrocytes promote CNS inflammation” published in the journalĀ Nature,Ā uncovered potential therapeutic targets that may be…
January 14, 2020 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD New Mechanism Boosting Myelin Regeneration May Ease MS Symptoms, Mouse Study Shows Blocking a protein called PAR1 may enhance the regeneration of myelin, the protective fatty layer that covers nerve fibers and isĀ damaged in multiple sclerosis (MS), a mouse study shows. Therapeutic targeting of PAR1 may promote remyelination and delay MS progression, according to the study, āBlocking the Thrombin Receptor…
December 10, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD Astrocytes in Brain Seen as Possible Trigger of Progressive MS via Processes of Metabolism Processes related to metabolism in brain cells known as astrocytes may be at the origin of multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly underlying the inflammation and damage to the nervous system seen in progressive disease, a study in mice found.
October 2, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD NFIA Protein Essential to Astrocytes, Brain Cells Active in Spinal Cord Repair and Remyelination, Study Suggests A protein known as nuclear factor I-A (NFIA) is key for spinal cord repair and timely remyelination by astrocytes ā the most abundant cells in the brain and first responders to sites of injury, findings in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS) suggest. In brain lesions, NFIA is…
April 18, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells Disrupt Blood-brain Barrier, Trigger Brain Inflammation in MS, Study Shows Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), the cells responsible for myelin production, are unable to migrate into sites of myelin loss in the brain. These cells then cluster and disrupt the blood-brain barrier (BBB), triggering an inflammatory process in the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS), a study shows. The study, āAberrant oligodendroglialāvascular interactions disrupt the bloodābrain barrier, triggeringĀ CNS inflammation,ā was published in the journalĀ Nature Neuroscience. MS is an autoimmune disease characterized by the loss of myelin (demyelination) ā the fat-rich substance that protects nerve fibers ā which leads to neurodegeneration.Ā Along with loss of myelin, researchers have observed that the blood-brain barrier ā a highly selective membrane that shields the central nervous system with its cerebrospinal fluid from the general blood circulation āĀ breaks down in the initial stages of disease. A team led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco,Ā have now discovered that OPCs are involved in the disruption of the blood-brain barrier in MS, according to a press releaseĀ from the National MS Society, which funded the study. Oligodendrocytes are myelin-producing cells and are responsible for myelinating the nerve cellsā axons ā a single oligodendrocyte is capable of myelinating multiple axons.Ā Mature myelin-producing oligodendrocytes develop from more immature, stem cell-like OPCs. In a normal brain, upon myelin loss, OPCs are called into action and travel into the damage site where they mature and generate myelin-producing oligodendrocytes. In this study, the researchers found that OPCs in MS form clusters in blood vessels of the brain-blood barrier, having lost the ability to detach from these vessels and migrate to injury sites. In an animal model of MS, they saw that OPC aggregates altered the location of other cells ā called astrocytes ā in a competition for space, and contributed to the disruption of blood vessels. Astrocytes are a group of star-shaped cells, belonging to the group of glial cells, that provide neurons with energy, and work as a platform to clean up their waste. They also have other functions within the brain, such as regulating blood flow and inflammation. The team also observed that OPC aggregates trigger an immune inflammatory response, shown by a large number of microglia (the central nervous system immune cells) and immune cells called macrophages around these cell clusters. āWe find in several MS cases, in lesion areas with active inflammation, that OPCs can be found clustered on vasculature, representing a defect in single cell perivascular migration and inability to detach from blood vessels,ā the researchers wrote. Further molecular analysis revealed that OPCs have high levels of Wnt signaling, and elevated secretion of Wif1 factor to the extracellular space thatĀ could explain why OPCs accumulate and destroy the blood-brain barrier. The WiF1 factor is actually a negative regulator of Wnt signaling that is essential for the maintenance of the blood-brain barrierĀ structure. This factor competes with Wnt ligands, and affects the integrity of cellular junctions, making the blood-brain barrier more fragile and permeable. "Evidence for this defective oligodendroglialāvascular interaction in MS suggests that aberrant OPC perivascular migration not only impairs their lesion recruitment but can also act as a disease perpetuator via disruption of the BBB,ā the researchers wrote. They suggested that more studies are needed to better understand the interactions between blood vessels and oligodendrocytes, which could help identify new therapeutic targets for promoting myelin repair in MS.
February 21, 2019 Columns by Tamara Sellman Need to Know: What Is Remyelination? Editor’s note: “Need to Know” is a series inspired by common forum questions and comments from readers. Have a comment or question about MS? Visit our forum. This week’s question is inspired by the forum topicĀ “New MS Therapy Company to Focus on Rejuvenating Coating…
January 30, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Brain Cells Key to Myelin Grown in Lab and Show Long-Term Survival Essential to Research, Study Reports Stem cells tweaked in the laboratory have allowed researchers, reportedly for a first time, to generate and maintain ball-shaped cultures ā called spheroids ā of human brain cells in 3D that contain oligodendrocytes, the cells that produce myelin, alongĀ with neurons and the astrocytes that are essential to nerve cell health.
December 20, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Genetic Variant Linked to MS Affects More Than Immune Cells, Study Finds A genetic variant associated with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) due to its impact on certain immune system cells can also affect brain cells called astrocytes, a study shows. Reported in the study, āEnhanced astrocyte responses are driven by a genetic risk allele associated with multiple…
November 1, 2018 News by Ana Pena PhD Stopping Thrombin’s Release in Brain May Prevent Myelin Loss in Diseases Like MS, Mouse Study Suggests Myelin loss might be prevented by astrocytes, a brain cell that regulates myelin’s thickness in coating nerve fibers to support the proper transmission of nerve signals, after astrocytes were seen toĀ block an enzyme called thrombin inĀ a study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Its…
September 24, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Oligodendrocytes, Cells That Produce Myelin, Can Be Generated from Astrocytes, Study Reports A molecule known as Sox10 enables brain cells called astrocytes to convert into myelin-forming oligodendrocytes, a new study in mice reports. The findings suggest an approach for myelin repair in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and similar disorders, its researchers said. The study, āIn vivoĀ conversion of…
August 14, 2018 News by Ana Pena PhD Detailed Map of Mouse Nervous System May Help Uncover Origin of Neurological Diseases, Including MS Researchers have created a detailed map of the mouse nervous system, including the location of the many diverse cell types in the brain, in the largest study yet of the makeup of the mammalian nervous system.Ā The new map could provide new clues about the origin of neurological…
May 21, 2018 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Gut Microbiome May Offer Way to Ease or Halt Brain Inflammation, Study Suggests Metabolites produced by microbes in the gut can ease inflammationĀ in the central nervous system by limiting the damage done by microglia, an immune cell of the brain, an early study reports. Its scientists suggest this gut-brain axisĀ may open new avenues to treatment. “These findings provide a clear understanding of how…
February 26, 2018 News by Catarina Silva Epstein-Barr Virus Found in Brain Cells of Many MS Patients, Study Reports United Arab Emirates scientists have found active Epstein-Barr virus in many multiple sclerosis patients’ brain cells, supporting the notion that it plays a role in the disease. The team found it in two types of brain cells ā astrocytes and microglia. The virus can be active or lie dormant in…
January 3, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Tailored Approaches May Lead to More Effective MS Treatments, UCLA Study Shows Tailored molecular treatments for specific disabilities may be a breakthrough for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, finds a new study by researchers atĀ University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA). The study, āCell-specific and region-specific transcriptomics in the multiple sclerosis model: Focus on astrocytes,ā appeared in the journal Proceedings…
June 9, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD New Way of Growing Astrocytes from Stem Cells May Aid Research into Brain Disorders Like MS Researchers at The Salk InstituteĀ have developed a way to growĀ vital brain cells called astrocytes from stem cells, a potential breakthrough for basic and clinical research into several diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). The study āDifferentiation of Inflammation-responsive Astrocytes from Glial Progenitors Generated from Human Induced Pluripotent…
May 23, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Brain IFN-gamma Drives MS Disease Processes, Russian Immune Factor Analysis Finds MS brain inflammation is a result of interactions between processes in the brain and the rest of the body, with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) being a key player, according to a detailed analysis of cytokines in the spinal fluid and serum of MS patients. Russia’sĀ Kazan Federal UniversityĀ found that IFN-gamma activates other…
March 21, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Kadimastem Obtains US Patent for Neurodegenerative Disease Stem Cell Technology The United States has granted a patent toĀ Kadimastem’sĀ stem cell-based technology for treating multiple sclerosis (MS) and other diseases of the nervous system. The patent involves the technology the company used to produce supporting cells in the central nervous system derived from human stem cells, including myelin-producing cells. TheĀ United…
February 15, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD Gilenya Could Help Treat SPMS by Countering Astrocytes, Study Says Gilenya (fingolimod)Ā a multiple sclerosis (MS) drug developed to target the immune system and control inflammation, can also reduce the negative action of astrocytes, further controlling inflammation, says a new study. The article, āSphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptor Modulation Suppresses Pathogenic Astrocyte Activation and Chronic Progressive CNS Inflammation,ā appeared in the…
January 23, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Astrocytes Can Turn Aggressive and Kill Neurons, Potentially Groundbreaking Study Says In what may be one of the most significant discoveries in neurodegenerative disease, researchersĀ have found that brain cells, called astrocytes, contribute to killing neurons and myelin-forming oligodendrocyte cells, which may drive neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Experiments indicate an aggressive astrocyte type kills cells by secreting a yet-unidentified…
July 20, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD Study That May Benefit MS Patients Awarded Grant from National Stem Cell Foundation A research project that aims to explore how astrocytes can be manipulated to stop or prevent neurodegeneration has received a grant from the National Stem Cell Foundation (NSCF). The projectĀ will be conducted by the The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Research Institute. TheĀ work developed by Dr. Valentina…
May 11, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Fluorosamine Seen to Boost Remyelination in MS Mouse Model by Blocking Scarring Molecules AĀ substance called fluorosamine was seen to boost remyelination in mice by preventing the synthesis of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans and by promoting oligodendrocyte function. The findings showed that targeting molecules that block remyelination may be a promising therapeutic approach in multiple sclerosis (MS). Upregulation of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans ā large molecules…
May 11, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD Diet Plays a Role in MS Progression Through Its Impact on Astrocytes, Researchers Say Dietary habits and the composition of the gut flora canĀ influenceĀ neuroinflammation and affect the outcome of neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study published in the journalĀ Nature MedicineĀ and titled “Type I interferons and microbial metabolites of tryptophan modulate astrocyte activity and central nervous…