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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
10:44
Two-photon Imaging of Cellular Dynamics in the Mouse Spinal Cord
Published on: February 22, 2015
Disease-responsive neural precursor cells are present in multiple sclerosis lesions.
Heidi Snethen1, Seth Love, Neil Scolding
1Department of Neurology, University of Bristol Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol BS161LE, UK.
Regenerative Medicine
|October 25, 2008
Summary
Endogenous neural precursors are present in increased numbers in multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions and show signs of proliferation and differentiation, suggesting their involvement in MS disease processes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Spontaneous tissue repair is observed in multiple sclerosis (MS).
- The cellular origin of remyelinating cells in MS remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that endogenous neural precursors contribute to MS pathology.
- To identify the source of cells involved in repair processes within MS lesions.
Main Methods:
- Postmortem brain and spinal cord samples from MS patients were analyzed.
- Immunocytochemical techniques were employed to identify specific cell markers.
Main Results:
- Cells co-expressing nestin and musashi-1 were found in significantly increased numbers (up to fivefold) within MS lesions.
- Proliferating nestin-positive cells (Ki67-positive) were observed.
- Some nestin-positive cells expressed markers of glial fibrillary acidic protein, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (NG-2, PDGF-alpha receptor), or early neuronal development (doublecortin), indicating transition from neural precursors.
Conclusions:
- Endogenous neural precursors are present and reactive within the pathological environment of MS.
- These findings support the role of endogenous neural precursors in the response to disease processes in multiple sclerosis.
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