Understanding drugs that can repair myelin

Myelin is a protective, fatty layer that surrounds nerve cells and supports their function. In MS, myelin is damaged, and the cells responsible for making it, called oligodendrocytes, decrease in both number and effectiveness. A promising approach to treating MS is to encourage remyelination, by stimulating immature cells, known as oligodendrocyte precursor cells, to develop into mature oligodendrocytes that can regenerate this protective layer.

Mr Jack McDonald’s research focuses on a protein called GPR17, a type of receptor found in immature oligodendrocyte cells that have the potential to become myelin-producing cells. This receptor plays a crucial role in helping these cells mature, making it a potential target for drugs that could promote myelin repair in MS. While evidence suggests GPR17 could be effective in promoting remyelination, we still don’t fully understand how it works or how drugs might act on it.

Mr McDonald is studying the pathways affected by drugs targeting GPR17 to learn more about how this receptor contributes to myelin repair. Using genetic tools, drug-based methods, and advanced cell models, he aims to clarify GPR17’s role in remyelination. By uncovering how GPR17 influences myelin formation, Mr McDonald hopes to inform future drug development, not only for GPR17 but also for other receptors involved in the repair of myelin in MS.