In multiple sclerosis (MS), microglia and macrophages within the central nervous system (CNS) play an important role in determining the balance among demyelination, neurodegeneration, and myelin repair. Phagocytic and regenerative functions of these CNS innate immune cells support remyelination, whereas chronic and maladaptive inflammatory activation promotes lesion expansion and disability, particularly in the progressive forms of MS. No currently approved drugs convincingly target microglia and macrophages within the CNS, contributing to the lack of therapies aimed at promoting remyelination and slowing disease progression for individuals with MS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe describe the case of a 36-year-old woman with a past medical history of low grade right frontal lobe glioma and focal epilepsy presenting with subacute, progressive, multifocal myoclonus and neck and back pain. Unlike her typical seizures, the myoclonus exhibited a distinct semiology, involving both positive and negative muscle jerks affecting multiple limb muscles while sparing the face. In addition, neurological examination revealed low-amplitude, arrhythmic movements of the hands and fingers, resembling minipolymyoclonus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn multiple sclerosis (MS) the circulating metabolome is dysregulated, with indole lactate (ILA) being one of the most significantly reduced metabolites. We demonstrate that oral supplementation of ILA impacts key MS disease processes in two preclinical models. ILA reduces neuroinflammation by dampening immune cell activation as well as infiltration; and promotes remyelination and oligodendrocyte differentiation through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe differentiation and suppressive functions of regulatory CD4 T cells (Tregs) are supported by a broad array of metabolic changes, providing potential therapeutic targets for immune modulation. In this study, we focused on the regulatory role of glycolytic enzymes in Tregs and identified phosphoglycerate mutase (PGAM) as being differentially overexpressed in Tregs and associated with a highly suppressive phenotype. Pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of PGAM reduced Treg differentiation and suppressive function while reciprocally inducing markers of a pro-inflammatory, T helper 17 (Th17)-like state.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProtein kinase C (PKC) plays a key role in modulating the activities of the innate immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS). A delicate balance between pro-inflammatory and regenerative activities by microglia and CNS-associated macrophages is necessary for the proper functioning of the CNS. Thus, a maladaptive activation of these CNS innate immune cells results in neurodegeneration and demyelination associated with various neurologic disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer's disease.
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