Do myelin-producing cells that ‘ingest’ slow down myelin repair?

Summary

In people with MS, the insulating, protective layer around nerves known as myelin, is attacked by the immune system. Although myelin can be repaired, individuals with MS experience a loss of myelin repair capacity in certain cells called oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), and the exact cause of this impairment is not fully understood. 

It has recently been discovered that OPCs play a role in shaping connections between brain cells, in addition to producing myelin. They achieve this by a process called phagocytosis, which involves 'eating' the connection points between nerve cells to ensure proper nerve connections. However, it is possible that OPCs engaged in phagocytosis may not be able to generate myelin and contribute to repair in MS. 

Ms Natalie King and her team are investigating whether OPCs that undergo phagocytosis can still produce myelin. Additionally, they aim to determine if a specific molecule on OPCs can influence their ability to engage in phagocytosis. By unravelling these mechanisms, they hope to uncover the factors that hinder myelin repair in MS and find new ways to guide OPCs towards generating myelin, thus promoting brain repair in individuals with MS.