October 4, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Study Finds Myc Gene Can Boost Efficiency of Myelin-repairing Cells Increasing the activity of a gene called Myc can make oligodendrocyte precursor cells, or the cells that repair myelin, more efficient ā “ground-breaking research” that could have implications for advancing MS treatments, according to a new study by Cambridge researchers. The study, “Myc determines the functional age…
September 24, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Cancer Researchers’ Discovery May Benefit MS Studies In an unexpected discovery, scientists working to understand the biological underpinnings of brain tumors found that increasing the activity of a protein receptor called PDGFRA reduces the production of myelin ā the fatty coating that is lost in multiple sclerosis (MS) ā in the nervous system. “We saw that…
July 28, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Signaling Protein Seen to Help Promote Myelin-making Cells A signaling protein called fractalkine helps to regulate the development of oligodendrocytes, cells of the nervous system responsible for making myelin ā the protecting coating of nerve cell fibers that is damaged and lost inĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). This finding was in the study, “Fractalkine signaling regulates…
September 9, 2019 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Inflammation Hijacks Myelin Repair Cells to Promote Immune Attacks, Study Shows Brain inflammation in multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) hijacks immature myelin repair cells, not only preventing myelin restoration but also promoting sustained inflammation and immune attacks against myelin, a preclinical study shows.
August 20, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD In Brains Damaged by MS or Age, Cells Can Be Tricked to Promote Remyelination, Study Suggests Our brains ā much like our joints ā stiffen with age, causing brain stem cells called oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) to lose their ability to proliferate and transform into oligodendrocytes,Ā the cells that produce myelin, an essential component for nerve cell communication, a study found. But tricking OPCs into sensing a…
April 26, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Cellular Senescence Implicated in MS Development, Study Suggests Cellular senescence ā the process of aging at the cellular level ā may play a role in the development of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) by limiting the ability of myelin-producing cells (oligodendrocytes) to renew and mature. The study with that finding, “Cellular senescence in progenitor…
July 30, 2018 News by Vijaya Iyer, PhD New Therapy Candidates Could Provide Basis for Regenerative Medicines to Treat MS, Study Suggests Therapy candidates that block enzymes responsible for making cholesterol can promote myelin regeneration, a discovery that could lead to new regenerative medicines capable of treating multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological diseases, according to a study. In fact,Ā ConveloĀ TherapeuticsĀ plans to do just that, announcing its intention to use…
July 13, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Dormant Herpes Virus Can Impede Repair of Myelin Sheath Whose Deterioration Causes MS, Study Reports A herpes virus that lies dormant in many people can hinder the repair of the neuron-protecting myelin sheath whose deterioration causes multiple sclerosis, a study reports. The finding about the HHV-6 virus may help explain differences in the symptoms and progression of the disease from person to person, researchers said.
August 31, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD RegeneRx to Receive EU Patent for Molecule That May Lead to MS Remyelination Therapy RegeneRx BiopharmaceuticalsĀ announced that it has received anĀ Intent to Grant notice from the European Patent Office (EPO) regarding a patent for itsĀ proprietary molecule Thymosin beta 4 (TĪ²4), aĀ potential therapyĀ forĀ multiple sclerosis (MS)Ā designed to promote remyelination. The patent will cover the use of TĪ²4 in a composition for treating or reducing…
January 28, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Researchers ID Protein That Works to Block Nervous System Remyelination A study from the University of Cambridge showed that the membrane-bound signaling protein EphrinB3, which acts by inhibiting the maturation of oligodendrocytes, also blocks the remyelination of damaged neurons in multiple sclerosis (MS). The study,Ā “Antibody-mediated neutralization of myelin-associated EphrinB3 accelerates CNS re-myelination,“Ā uncovered a new target toĀ explore…