Articles tagged with Myelin Sheath
Mature oligodendrocytes have been found to be capable of remyelinating damaged axons, suggesting a potential new target for treating multiple sclerosis. This discovery opens up new avenues for slowing or reversing the disease by promoting the activity of these cells.
A NIH study found that astrocytes alter neuron signal speed by changing myelin thickness and node width, impairing reflexes. The researchers propose thrombin inhibitors as a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis.
Researchers found structural changes in myelin sheaths triggered by environmental factors can lead to autoimmune attacks that cause MS. The study suggests even minor changes in local conditions may precipitate the disease.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University developed a new method to generate brain stem cells, paving the way for greater understanding of myelin disease. The findings also provide new insights and therapeutic strategies for Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease, a rare genetic disorder affecting male children.
Researchers detected myelin loosening in concussed athletes two weeks after injury, even though they felt fine. This can slow signal transmission between brain cells and may lead to long-term damage.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have identified dozens of drug candidates that share a common mechanism to repair damaged brain cells in multiple sclerosis. These new targets and potent early-stage drug candidates could lead to regenerative medicines for the debilitating disease.
Researchers have successfully generated brain tissue with all major cell types using organoid technology, providing a more accurate representation of human brain development. This breakthrough enables the study of neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease in laboratory-dish models.
Researchers at ASRC uncover the role of PRMT5 in myelin production, finding it essential for oligodendrocyte differentiation and cell survival. The study provides new insights into myelin formation mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies for treating CNS diseases.
New research on sea lamprey reveals the evolutionary roots of myelinating glia, cells responsible for insulating axons and enhancing neural communication. The study's findings suggest that myelin evolved to facilitate fast signal transmission in smaller axons of jawed vertebrates.
Researchers from Israel and Japan collaborated to diagnose a child with an ultra-rare genetic disease caused by a mutation in the EPT1 gene, which is essential for making myelin in the normal brain. The team found that the disease affects PE production, leading to reduced plasmalogen synthesis, but not enough to prevent myelin damage.
Researchers found myelin stimulates axonal outgrowth in precursor neurons and stem cells, enhancing threefold growth. This breakthrough supports the use of neural precursor cells and iPSC-derived stem cells for repairing spinal cord injuries.
Research finds child abuse alters gene expression and myelin layer thickness in brain's Anterior Cingulate Cortex, a key region for mood regulation. This modification may underlie increased vulnerability to depression and other mood disorders in abused individuals.
A team of scientists at FAU has discovered how protein molecules regulate the formation of myelin sheaths in the nervous system. The study found that Nfat proteins are essential for successful interaction between other protein molecules, and their inhibition can lead to myelin loss and neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis.
A new study identifies a molecule that triggers a pathway blocking white matter repair, leading to chronic injury. The molecule, hyaluronic acid (HA), accumulates in lesions and prevents oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from producing myelin.
Researchers challenge conventional thinking about MS root cause and develop new treatment approach by protecting myelin from immune attack. The study provides compelling evidence that MS could begin with myelin damage, opening new lines of thinking for this disease.
Researchers found increased myelin water fraction in white matter following mild TBI, indicating active remyelination process. However, this change may be associated with disorganized and less functional myelin, a potential risk factor for chronic conditions like CTE.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have discovered that Schwann cells produce fatty acids through an enzyme called FASN, which is essential for myelin layer formation and maintenance. This breakthrough has implications for understanding the development of rare childhood diseases and potential treatments.
Researchers discovered that characteristic patterns of the myelin layer are determined early on and can be adjusted by nerve cells. The team found that the speed of signal transmission through an axon is partly determined by the number and length of myelin segments.
Scientists at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have developed an experimental molecular therapy that restores nerve insulation in mice, improving limb function and reducing discomfort. The treatment targets the enzyme HDAC3, which is involved in epigenetic changes that restrict myelin regeneration.
A team of researchers led by Prof. Mikael Simons from the Technical University of Munich discovered that cholesterol crystals can prevent regeneration in multiple sclerosis patients. The team also identified a novel oligodendroglial cell type involved in myelin formation, which may help develop new therapies for MS.
Researchers discovered that a blood-clotting protein, fibrinogen, stops adult stem cells from producing myelin, preventing brain cell repair. The study's findings may lead to new treatments for diseases such as MS and other conditions affecting the nervous system.
A team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison reports that in long-lived animals, renewed but thin myelin sheaths are enough to restore the impaired nervous system. The findings confirm that thin myelin sheaths support nerve fiber function and survival, providing a potential marker for remyelination.
Researchers have successfully completed a Phase II clinical trial showing that an FDA-approved antihistamine restores nervous system function in patients with chronic multiple sclerosis. The drug, clemastine fumarate, repairs damage inflicted on myelin, speeding transmission of electrical signals in the nervous system.
A potent gene immunotherapy strategy induces robust immune tolerance in mice with multiple sclerosis, reversing symptoms and stabilizing brain function. The treatment, using a viral vector to deliver myelin sheath protein, protects against disease progression and restores mobility.
Researchers used zebrafish to study leprosy's impact on nerve cells, finding bacteria trigger a toxic response in macrophages that destroy myelin sheath. The disease may share characteristics with conditions like multiple sclerosis and tuberculosis.
Researchers found an anti-sense RNA that regulates myelin genes and promotes demyelination after nerve injury. This discovery could lead to a new therapy by manipulating AS-RNA expression to restore complete nerve function.
Exposure to a complex environment with new sights, sounds, and experiences can strengthen infants' developing brains, helping maintain a smooth neural network. Environmental enrichment also plays a crucial role in strengthening motor and cognitive function in both children and adults.
Researchers at Wayne State University are exploring leukodystrophies and genetic Leukoencephalopathies, rare disorders affecting the central nervous system. They will use a zebrafish mutant line of Vacuolar Protein Sorting 11 to better understand the progression and model for a disease causing progressive vision loss.
Researchers developed a high-speed imaging technique that reveals molecular organization and chemical makeup in living samples, enabling real-time observation of disease progression. This technique could improve understanding of early disease stages and lead to targeted drug treatments.
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center found that genetic dysfunction disrupts the balanced production of Schwann cells in peripheral nerves. This imbalance leads to nerve insulation defects and can cause conditions like neuropathy and nerve sheath tumors.
A team of researchers has identified a rare human mutation that causes a devastating neurological disease, similar to conditions affecting the production and maintenance of myelin in rats. The discovery provides a new model for understanding and treating these diseases.
Researchers have restored nerve insulation and improved limb mobility in mice with multiple sclerosis by treating them with a microRNA called miR-219. The treatment reinvigorated the function of damaged cells that produce myelin, allowing it to reform and reinsulate nerves.
Researchers found that phototherapy improved behavioral responses and recovered myelin sheaths in rat models of diabetic neuropathy. The treatment also reduced the migration of astrocytes to the site of injury, which release inflammatory mediators.
Researchers discovered that disruption in Schwann cells, which make myelin, leads to hidden hearing loss. This finding may help diagnose and treat the condition, which affects individuals exposed to high levels of noise. The discovery could lead to new treatments for hidden hearing loss.
Researchers have made significant strides in treating primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) with ocrelizumab, a medication that targets immune cells contributing to the disease. The study, led by UTHealth's Jerry Wolinsky, shows substantial improvement in slowing disability progression and reducing new lesion formation.
Researchers at TUM have found a new link between IL-6 and pathogenic T cells in multiple sclerosis, shedding light on the disease's mechanisms. The discovery highlights the importance of blocking IL-6 signaling to prevent the formation of pathological cells.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered that structural instabilities in the myelin sheaths of neurons may enable the immune system to launch an uncontrolled attack on them, leading to multiple sclerosis. The study suggests a potential trigger for the disease's outbreak and offers new avenues for therapies and diagnostics.
Researchers found that sleep deprivation in children increases deep sleep in the parietal and occipital lobes, which are involved in spatial perception and processing multi-sensorial input. The level of myelin content in these brain regions is associated with the deep-sleep effect.
Researchers mapped brain structure changes in teenagers to understand the onset of mental health problems. The study found that myelin levels increase within the cortex during adolescence, potentially linking it to schizophrenia risk genes.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet identified 12 subclasses of oligodendrocytes and a novel cell distinct from oligodendrocytes residing in blood vessels, uncovering unexpected diversity within the nerve-insulating cells.
Scientists have discovered a single genetic mutation that causes multiple sclerosis in two-thirds of those affected, providing a potential target for therapies. The mutation leads to a defective protein that disrupts communication between the brain and body, resulting in vision problems, muscle weakness, and cognitive impairments.
A recent study published in NeuroImage tracked the rate of myelination in children's brains, revealing insights into the rapid growth of nerve fibers during childhood. The findings have implications for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders and diseases like multiple sclerosis and leukodystrophies.
Researchers found that removing Dnmt1 during OPC differentiation led to inefficient myelin formation and neurological deterioration in mice. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of myelin disorders and potentially develop treatments.
A small study suggests Zika virus may be associated with an autoimmune disorder attacking the brain's myelin, similar to multiple sclerosis. Researchers found six people developed neurologic symptoms consistent with autoimmune disorders and underwent exams and blood tests, revealing signs of damage to the brain's white matter.
Researchers discovered a gene associated with CHARGE syndrome disrupts molecular pathways controlling myelin sheath formation in nerves and bones. The study suggests a potential molecular framework for identifying therapeutic targets to promote myelin regeneration.
New research suggests chronic hypoxia induces neuroinflammation in the developing brain, leading to delayed white matter development and motor learning deficits. Perinatal chronic hypoxia may lead to long-term behavioral deficits, making oxygen supplementation a potential treatment option.
A new mouse model study suggests that the death of specific brain cells may trigger an autoimmune response against myelin, a characteristic of multiple sclerosis. Nanoparticle therapy has been shown to prevent this reaction, offering potential new treatments for humans.
Multiple sclerosis may be triggered by the death of brain cells that make the insulation around nerve fibers. Nanoparticles have been shown to prevent progressive MS in an animal model, offering new hope for human treatments without side effects.
Researchers identified a nuclear receptor protein called RXRgamma, which promotes OPC differentiation and remyelination. A vitamin D-activating drug may enhance remyelination in MS patients by controlling myelin sheath regeneration.
Researchers discovered that antiretroviral therapies can interfere with myelin production in the brain, leading to cognitive impairments. The study suggests a need for rethinking HIV drug design and prescription, particularly for children, to improve patient outcomes.
Researchers developed a new method to capture how brain cells interact, discovering novel proteins necessary for myelin production. This breakthrough provides insights into myelin diseases and improves understanding of cellular interactions.
A UCLA/USC study suggests that damage to the brain's nerve fibers is likely the cause of varying recovery times after a traumatic brain injury. The research found that patients with widespread myelin damage performed 14% worse on cognitive tests and had slower wiring, while those with intact myelin recovered faster.
Researchers discovered that Schwann cells digest damaged myelin internally through autophagy, clearing 40-50% of the myelin within 5-7 days. This mechanism enables significant nerve repair in the peripheral nervous system, contrasting with the CNS where oligodendrocytes fail to clear myelin.
Diabetic neuropathy, a condition affecting up to 60% of diabetes patients, can be reversed by stem cell injections that promote angiogenesis and nerve re-myelination. Researchers have identified new mechanisms by which mesenchymal stem cells can improve the condition.
Researchers discovered two drugs, miconazole and clobetasol, that stimulate stem cells to repair white matter and reverse paralysis in multiple sclerosis. The study found that these compounds activate oligodendrocyte progenitor cells to increase myelination, potentially leading to new treatments for the disease.
A Phase 2 study found that the experimental antibody anti-LINGO-1 significantly improved conduction in people with acute optic neuritis, a common precursor to multiple sclerosis. The treatment also led to improved recovery of myelin, a fatty substance surrounding nerves damaged in MS.
Researchers discovered that increasing brain activity can stimulate myelin production, which protects nerve fibers. This finding could lead to new treatments for multiple sclerosis.
A study found that guanabenz, a blood pressure medication, enhances an innate cellular protective response and prevents myelin loss in animal models of multiple sclerosis. The drug's unique mechanism provides protection against MS by reducing inflammation and preserving myelin levels.
Researchers found that a protein called TREM2 triggers the clearance of debris from the brain, which can contribute to neurological diseases. Triggering this protein may help slow the progression of conditions like Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis.
Researchers have discovered a way to keep remyelination going using an FDA-approved drug solifenacin, which boosts myelin synthesis and improves auditory function in mice with myelin-related disease. The study shows that targeting human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells with solifenacin promotes differentiation and myelin production.