The Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Multiple Sclerosis

Dr Monokesh Sen

Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW

February 2025

specialisation: Neurobiology

focus area: Causes and Prevention

funding type: Fellowship

project type: Investigator Led Research

Summary

MS is a disease that damages myelin, the protective coating around nerves in the brain and spinal cord. This damage disrupts nerve signals and causes various neurological symptoms. Currently, no treatment can fully protect or repair myelin effectively. Dr Monokesh Sen and his team are researching how certain immune cells, specifically microglia and macrophages, support myelin-producing cells, known as oligodendrocytes, which are essential for myelin repair. The team believes that small particles released by these immune cells, called extracellular vesicles (EVs), play a critical role in this process.

Dr. Sen’s project will investigate how these microglia/macrophage-derived EVs (MEVs) might help communicate with and support oligodendrocytes. The team will first collect blood samples from both people with MS and healthy individuals, isolating specific immune cells to generate macrophages in the lab. The MEVs released from these lab-grown macrophages will be collected and analysed for their protein and lipid content, using a special process to separate cells, called ultracentrifugation. By comparing MEVs from people with MS and healthy controls, Dr. Sen’s team hopes to identify potential biological markers, or biomarkers, related to MS severity.

Additionally, the team will study how MEVs influence the growth and maturation of oligodendrocytes in lab settings and laboratory models of MS. This research aims to provide new insights into the underlying processes that promote myelin repair. This could lead to future treatments that help people with MS rebuild damaged myelin and improve their symptoms.

lead investigator

co-investigator

total funding

$225,000

start year

2025

duration

3 years

STATUS

Current project

Stages of the research process

Fundamental laboratory Research

Laboratory research that investigates scientific theories behind the possible causes, disease progression, ways to diagnose and better treat MS.

Lab to clinic timeline

10+ years

Translational Research

Research that builds on fundamental scientific research to develop new therapies, medical procedures or diagnostics and advances it closer to the clinic.

Lab to clinic timeline

5+ years

Clinical Studies and Clinical Trials

Clinical research is the culmination of fundamental and translational research turning those research discoveries into treatments and interventions for people with MS.

Lab to clinic timeline

3+ years

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The Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Multiple Sclerosis