Classic and Golli Myelin Basic Protein have distinct developmental trajectories in human visual cortex

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Myelin, traditionally viewed as insulation, is increasingly recognized for its roles in neural plasticity, axonal metabolism, and neuroimmune signaling.
• Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) is a key component, with Classic-MBP involved in myelin compaction and Golli-MBP acting as a neural-immune link.
• Myelin proteins in the visual cortex interact with immune processes, influencing experience-dependent plasticity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the lifespan expression patterns of Classic- and Golli-MBP in the human visual cortex.
• To understand the dynamic balance between these MBP forms across different life stages.
• To explore the implications of these expression patterns for neurodevelopment and aging.

Main Methods:

• Western blotting was used to quantify Classic- and Golli-MBP levels.
• Post-mortem human visual cortex tissue samples from individuals aged 20 days to 80 years were analyzed.
• Expression levels were correlated with age to identify developmental and aging trends.

Main Results:

• Classic-MBP expression increased until age 42 and then declined, while Golli-MBP showed early developmental changes and a gradual increase into aging.
• Three distinct stages in the Classic- vs. Golli-MBP expression balance were identified across the lifespan: early Golli-dominance, followed by Classic-dominance, and a return to Golli-dominance in aging.
• Golli-MBP exhibited significant inter-individual variability during childhood.

Conclusions:

• Lifespan expression patterns of Classic- and Golli-MBP differ significantly in the human visual cortex.
• The dynamic expression of Golli-MBP suggests a crucial role in neuroimmune interactions during development and aging.
• These findings complement advanced MRI techniques for mapping cortical myelin and understanding neurological conditions.