Spinal Cord Research Help

Simple Explanation

Efficient strategies for neuroprotection and repair are still an unmet medical need for neurodegenerative diseases and lesions of the central nervous system. Over the last few decades, a great deal of attention has been focused on white matter as a potential therapeutic target, mainly due to the discovery of the oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the adult central nervous system, a cell type able to fully repair myelin damage, and to the development of advanced imaging techniques to visualize and measure white matter lesions. This review aims to discuss the potential of white matter as a therapeutic target for neuroprotection in lesions and diseases of the central nervous system.

Key Findings

1
OPCs are the most abundant proliferative population in the adult CNS, representing 5–8% of all cells, and can be recognized by the expression of membrane markers such as NG2 and PDGF.
2
Inflammation is a fundamental trigger to induce remyelination, and the balance between proliferation and differentiation induction is maintained by a series of factors.
3
Extensive oligodendrocyte and OPC cell death occurs during the first two weeks following injury in the epicenter as well as regions distal to the lesion.

Research Summary

Efficient strategies for neuroprotection and repair are still an unmet medical need for neurodegenerative diseases and lesions of the central nervous system. Over the last few decades, a great deal of attention has been focused on white matter as a potential therapeutic target, mainly due to the discovery of the oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the adult central nervous system, a cell type able to fully repair myelin damage, and to the development of advanced imaging techniques to visualize and measure white matter lesions. This review aims to discuss the potential of white matter as a therapeutic target for neuroprotection in lesions and diseases of the central nervous system.

Practical Implications

Drug Discovery

In vitro drug screening should consider regional OPC heterogeneity and specific pathophysiology to improve the success rate of clinical translation.

Clinical Study Design

Clinical studies should include white matter monitoring in primary neurodegenerative diseases to better understand disease progression and treatment effects.

Treatment Timing

Pharmacological approaches to improve myelin restoration require stringent clinical trial design, adopting appropriate time windows for treatments based on preclinical studies.

Study Limitations

1
The in vitro step of the drug discovery pipelines should consider regional OPC heterogeneity and specific pathophysiology.
2
Clinical study design should include WM monitoring in primary neurodegenerative diseases also.
3
The study of the potential role of pharmacological approaches to improve myelin restoration requires stringent clinical trial design, adopting the appropriate time windows for treatments, as suggested by preclinical studies.

Neuroprotection and neuroregeneration: roles for the white matter

Simple Explanation

Key Findings

Research Summary

Practical Implications

Drug Discovery

Clinical Study Design

Treatment Timing

Study Limitations

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Neuroprotection and neuroregeneration: roles for the white matter

Simple Explanation

Key Findings

Research Summary

Practical Implications

Drug Discovery

Clinical Study Design

Treatment Timing

Study Limitations

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?