Lecturer: Robin J.M. Franklin, Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

 

Remyelination, the process by which new myelin sheaths are restored to demyelinated axons, represents one of the most compelling examples of adult multipotent stem cells contributing to regeneration of the injured CNS. This process can occur with remarkable efficiency in multiple sclerosis (MS), and in experimental models, revealing an impressive ability of the adult CNS to repair itself. However, the inconsistency of remyelination in MS, and the loss of axonal integrity that results from its failure, makes enhancement of remyelination an important therapeutic objective. There is now compelling evidence that ageing is the major contributor to the declining efficiency of remyelination and that this is largely due to a failure of stem cell differentiation. This talk will review recent studies we have undertaken aimed at obtaining a detailed understanding of the mechanisms of regulating differentiation during remyelination and hence identifying novel therapeutic targets.