Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2024, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (3): 578-582.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.380879

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Star power: harnessing the reactive astrocyte response to promote remyelination in multiple sclerosis

Markley Silva Oliveira Junior1, #, Laura Reiche1, #, Emerson Daniele2, 3, Ines Kortebi2, 3, Maryam Faiz2, 3, Patrick Küry1, *   

  1. 1Department of Neurology, Neuroregeneration laboratory, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany; 2Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; 3Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
  • Online:2024-03-15 Published:2023-09-02
  • Contact: Patrick Küry, PhD, kuery@uni-duesseldorf.de.
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Ontario Institute of Regenerative Medicine (New Ideas Grant), Canada First Research Excellence Fund (Medicine by Design), the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Jürgen Manchot Foundation, the Christiane and Claudia Hempel Foundation for Clinical Stem Cell Research and the James and Elisabeth Cloppenburg, Peek and Cloppenburg Düsseldorf Stiftung (to PK).

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Abstract: Astrocytes are indispensable for central nervous system development and homeostasis. In response to injury and disease, astrocytes are integral to the immunological- and the, albeit limited, repair response. In this review, we will examine some of the functions reactive astrocytes play in the context of multiple sclerosis and related animal models. We will consider the heterogeneity or plasticity of astrocytes and the mechanisms by which they promote or mitigate demyelination. Finally, we will discuss a set of biomedical strategies that can stimulate astrocytes in their promyelinating response.

Key words: astrocytes, demyelination, drug-based therapies, myelin repair, oligodendrocyte precursor cells, reactive astrogliosis