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Published on: December 8, 2017
Neuroglial responses to CNS injury: prospects for novel therapeutics
Trevor J Kilpatrick1, Helmut Butzkueven, Ben Emery
1University of Melbourne, Centre for Neuroscience, Victoria 3010, Australia. t.kilpatrick@hfi.unimelb.edu.au
Abstract:
Immune-mediated therapies can reduce the relapse rate in multiple sclerosis. However, there is no clear-cut evidence that any of these therapies substantially alter the long-term outcome for patients with progressive multiple sclerosis. The neurological disability that all too frequently accompanies multiple sclerosis is ultimately due to injury to target cells, principally oligodendroglia, within the nervous system. Recent data suggest that activation of leukemia inhibitory factor-receptor signaling is an important component of a neurobiological response that serves to limit the extent of immune-mediated injury. Therefore, inactivation of this pathway could provide a novel approach to the treatment of demyelinating disease.
Insights
Immune therapies help multiple sclerosis relapses but not progressive disease. Targeting leukemia inhibitory factor-receptor signaling may protect against nerve cell injury in demyelinating diseases.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) involves immune-mediated attacks on the central nervous system.
- Current immune therapies reduce relapse rates but show limited efficacy in progressive MS.
- Neurological disability in MS stems from damage to oligodendroglia, crucial for myelin.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of leukemia inhibitory factor-receptor (LIF-R) signaling in neuroprotection.
- To explore LIF-R pathway inactivation as a potential therapeutic strategy for demyelinating diseases.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of recent data on neurobiological responses to immune-mediated injury.
- Focus on the involvement of LIF-R signaling in limiting neural damage.
Main Results:
- Activation of LIF-R signaling appears to be a key neuroprotective mechanism.
- This pathway helps mitigate the extent of immune-mediated injury in the nervous system.
Conclusions:
- Inactivating the LIF-R pathway presents a novel therapeutic target.
- This approach could offer a new treatment strategy for demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis.
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