Background: Colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) signaling is crucial for the maintenance and function of various myeloid subsets. CSF1R antagonism was previously shown to mitigate clinical severity in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The associated mechanisms are still not well delineated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCanavan disease is a leukodystrophy caused by ASPA mutations that diminish oligodendroglial aspartoacylase activity, and is characterized by markedly elevated brain concentrations of the aspartoacylase substrate N-acetyl-l-aspartate (NAA) and by astroglial and intramyelinic vacuolation. Astroglia express NaDC3 (encoded by SLC13A3), a sodium-coupled transporter for NAA and other dicarboxylates. Astroglial conditional Slc13a3 deletion in aspartoacylase-deficient Canavan disease model mice ("CD mice") reversed brain NAA elevation and improved motor function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCanavan disease (CD) is a recessively inherited pediatric leukodystrophy resulting from inactivating mutations to the oligodendroglial enzyme aspartoacylase (ASPA). ASPA is responsible for hydrolyzing the amino acid derivative N-acetyl-L-aspartate (NAA), and without it, brain NAA concentrations increase by 50% or more. Infants and children with CD present with progressive cognitive and motor delays, cytotoxic edema, astroglial vacuolation, and prominent spongiform brain degeneration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPoly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) plays a fundamental role in DNA repair and gene expression. Excessive PARP1 hyperactivation, however, has been associated with cell death. PARP1 and/or its activity are dysregulated in the immune and central nervous system of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and animal models.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune demyelinating disease with high variability of clinical symptoms. In most cases MS appears as a relapsing-remitting disease course that at a later stage transitions into irreversible progressive decline of neurologic function. The mechanisms underlying MS progression remain poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF