New Model for Multiple Sclerosis Developed by Researchers in China

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) have developed a new model for multiple sclerosis, a chronic and debilitating neurological disease. According to a study published in Cell Death & Disease, the new model, based on repeated ablations of mature Tmem10+ oligodendrocytes, recapitulates key pathological features of MS, including prolonged demyelination and axonal injury, in the backdrop of chronic neuroinflammation. This new model provides a valuable tool for assessing the efficacy of therapeutic interventions for MS.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new model, developed by researchers at SUSTech, involves repeated ablations of mature Tmem10+ oligodendrocytes, which caused prolonged demyelination and axonal injury in young adult mice.
  • The model also features chronic neuroinflammation, including gliosis and lymphocyte infiltration, which mimics the pathological features of MS.
  • The study demonstrated that the proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) were accelerated in response to the oligodendrocyte ablations, leading to spontaneous remyelination.
  • The new model presents a "time window" for assessing the efficacy of therapeutic pro-remyelinating agents, as demonstrated by administering Benztropine to the demyelination model.
  • The researchers believe that this new model will facilitate the development of effective therapeutic interventions for MS.
  • Haijiao Huang, lead researcher on the study, commented on the significance of the findings, stating, "This de-/re-myelination model presents a wide 'time window' between the onset of demyelination and spontaneous remyelination, which makes it suitable for assessing the efficacy of therapeutic pro-remyelinating agents."
  • The study was co-authored by researchers from the SUSTech, including Feiyan Zhu, Yuting Shu, Guoru Ren, Bo Jing, Honglin Tan, Wanxiang Jiang, Yiyuan Cui, Paul F. Worley, Bo Xiao, and Mina Chen.

Statistics:

  • 9 weeks: the duration of the oligodendrocyte ablation experiments
  • 3 rounds of oligodendrocyte ablation: the number of ablations performed to induce demyelination
  • 691: the designation for the study in Cell Death & Disease journal
  • 16(1): the issue and volume number for the study in Cell Death & Disease journal
  • Spontaneous remyelination: the rate at which oligodendrocytes regenerated myelin in response to oligodendrocyte ablations
  • Prolonged demyelination: the duration of demyelination observed in the model (over 9 weeks)

Sources:

  • Repeated ablations of mature Tmem10+ oligodendrocytes recapitulates key pathological features of multiple sclerosis with prolonged demyelination. Cell Death & Disease, 2025;16(1):691.
  • Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, 518000, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China.