The obstacle to successful remyelination in demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, mainly lies in the inability of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) to differentiate, since OPCs and oligodendrocyte-lineage cells that are unable to fully differentiate are found in the areas of demyelination. Thus, promoting the differentiation of OPCs is vital for the treatment of demyelinating diseases. Shikimic acid (SA) is mainly derived from star anise, and is reported to have anti-influenza, anti-oxidation, and anti-tumor effects. In the present study, we found that SA significantly promoted the differentiation of cultured rat OPCs without affecting their proliferation and apoptosis. In mice, SA exerted therapeutic effects on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), such as alleviating clinical EAE scores, inhibiting inflammation, and reducing demyelination in the CNS. SA also promoted the differentiation of OPCs as well as their remyelination after lysolecithin-induced demyelination. Furthermore, we showed that the promotion effect of SA on OPC differentiation was associated with the up-regulation of phosphorylated mTOR. Taken together, our results demonstrated that SA could act as a potential drug candidate for the treatment of demyelinating diseases.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Demyelinating Diseases ; prevention & control ; Encephalitis ; prevention & control ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental ; prevention & control ; Female ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Myelin Basic Protein ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; administration & dosage ; Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Remyelination ; drug effects ; Shikimic Acid ; administration & dosage ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism

The exacerbation of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) is closely associated with obstruction of the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). To discover novel therapeutic compounds for enhancing remyelination by endogenous OPCs, we screened for myelin basic protein expression using cultured rat OPCs and a library of small-molecule compounds. One of the most effective drugs was pinocembrin, which remarkably promoted OPC differentiation and maturation without affecting cell proliferation and survival. Based on these in vitro effects, we further assessed the therapeutic effects of pinocembrin in animal models of demyelinating diseases. We demonstrated that pinocembrin significantly ameliorated the progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and enhanced the repair of demyelination in lysolectin-induced lesions. Further studies indicated that pinocembrin increased the phosphorylation level of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Taken together, our results demonstrated that pinocembrin promotes OPC differentiation and remyelination through the phosphorylated mTOR pathway, and suggest a novel therapeutic prospect for this natural flavonoid product in treating demyelinating diseases.

The exacerbation of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) is closely associated with obstruction of the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). To discover novel therapeutic compounds for enhancing remyelination by endogenous OPCs, we screened for myelin basic protein expression using cultured rat OPCs and a library of small-molecule compounds. One of the most effective drugs was pinocembrin, which remarkably promoted OPC differentiation and maturation without affecting cell proliferation and survival. Based on these in vitro effects, we further assessed the therapeutic effects of pinocembrin in animal models of demyelinating diseases. We demonstrated that pinocembrin significantly ameliorated the progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and enhanced the repair of demyelination in lysolectin-induced lesions. Further studies indicated that pinocembrin increased the phosphorylation level of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Taken together, our results demonstrated that pinocembrin promotes OPC differentiation and remyelination through the phosphorylated mTOR pathway, and suggest a novel therapeutic prospect for this natural flavonoid product in treating demyelinating diseases.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Flavanones ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Myelin Sheath/metabolism* ; Oligodendroglia/metabolism* ; Rats ; Remyelination ; Signal Transduction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*

The correct differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) is essential for the myelination and remyelination processes in the central nervous system. Determining the regulatory mechanism is fundamental to the treatment of demyelinating diseases. By analyzing the RNA sequencing data of different neural cells, we found that cyclin-dependent kinase 18 (CDK18) is exclusively expressed in oligodendrocytes. In vivo studies showed that the expression level of CDK18 gradually increased along with myelin formation during development and in the remyelination phase in a lysophosphatidylcholine-induced demyelination model, and was distinctively highly expressed in oligodendrocytes. In vitro overexpression and interference experiments revealed that CDK18 directly promotes the differentiation of OPCs, without affecting their proliferation or apoptosis. Mechanistically, CDK18 activated the RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway, thus promoting OPC differentiation. The results of the present study suggest that CDK18 is a promising cell-type specific target to treat demyelinating disease.

The differentiation and maturation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) is essential for myelination and remyelination in the CNS. The failure of OPCs to achieve terminal differentiation in demyelinating lesions often results in unsuccessful remyelination in a variety of human demyelinating diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling OPC differentiation under pathological conditions remain largely unknown. Myt1L (myelin transcription factor 1-like), mainly expressed in neurons, has been associated with intellectual disability, schizophrenia, and depression. In the present study, we found that Myt1L was expressed in oligodendrocyte lineage cells during myelination and remyelination. The expression level of Myt1L in neuron/glia antigen 2-positive (NG2) OPCs was significantly higher than that in mature CC1 oligodendrocytes. In primary cultured OPCs, overexpression of Myt1L promoted, while knockdown inhibited OPC differentiation. Moreover, Myt1L was potently involved in promoting remyelination after lysolecithin-induced demyelination in vivo. ChIP assays showed that Myt1L bound to the promoter of Olig1 and transcriptionally regulated Olig1 expression. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that Myt1L is an essential regulator of OPC differentiation, thereby supporting Myt1L as a potential therapeutic target for demyelinating diseases.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Demyelinating Diseases ; chemically induced ; Lysophosphatidylcholines ; toxicity ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Oligodendroglia ; cytology ; metabolism ; Remyelination ; physiology ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism