Sozmen et al (Nogo receptor blockade overcomes remyelination failure after white matter stroke and stimulates functional recovery in aged mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2016;113:E8453–E8462. doi: 10.1073/ pnas.1615322113) investigated the roles of Nogo/ NgR1 signaling in remyelination after white matter stroke. This study used a mouse model of white matter stroke by injecting L-Nio into the corp...

The myelin-synthesizing oligodendrocyte is compromised in many neuropathological diseases, including demyelinating diseases (e.g. multiple sclerosis), metabolic diseases (e.g. Pelizaeus-Merzbacher), infectious diseases (e.g. progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy), neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. multisystem degeneration), and possibly neoplasms (e.g. oligodendrogliomas). Understanding the...

The RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) represses the expression of neuronal-specific genes in non-neuronal cells by recruiting histone deacetylases (HDACs) and other histone modifying and chromatin remodeling proteins to the DNA. REST regulation of the expression of neuronal genes is required for the orderly developmental transition from a neuroepithelial stem cell to a functional neuron...

Spinal cord oligodendrocytes originate in the ventricular zone and subsequently migrate to white matter, stop, proliferate, and differentiate. Here we demonstrate a role for the chemokine CXCL1 and its receptor CXCR2 in patterning the developing spinal cord. Signaling through CXCR2, CXCL1 inhibited oligodendrocyte precursor migration. The migrational arrest was rapid, reversible, concentration ...

Neural precursor/stem cell transplantation therapies promote regeneration in neurological injuries, but current delivery methods have drawbacks. These include risks with surgical microinjection (e.g., hemorrhage, embolism) and high loss systemic delivery/passage through fine gauge needles. Aerosolized offers significant benefits including rapid minimally invasive delivery, ease of to end users....

The number of elderly multiple sclerosis (MS) patients is growing, mainly due to the increase in life expectancy general population and availability effective disease-modifying treatments. However, current treatments reduce frequency relapses slow progression disease, but they cannot stop disability accumulation associated with disease progression. One possible explanation impact immunosenescen...

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), which are enriched in demyelinating plaques in neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), impair remyelination by inhibiting the migration and differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) in the central nervous system (CNS). We herein show that protamine (PRM, also known as a heparin antagonist) effectively neutralizes th...

Mechanistic studies of CNS myelination have been hindered by the lack of a rapidly myelinating culture system. Here, we describe a versatile CNS coculture method that allows time-lapse microscopy and molecular analysis of distinct stages of myelination. Employing a culture architecture of reaggregated neurons fosters extension of dense beds of axons from purified retinal ganglion cells. Seeding...

Subcortical small vessel disease (SVD) is characterized by white matter damage resulting from arteriolosclerosis and chronic hypoperfusion. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1) is dysregulated in the hereditary SVD, CARASIL (cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy). However, very little is known about the role of the largest group in the ...