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Gene from High Altitude Yak Protected and Repaired Myelin Sheath in Early MS Study
A Retsat gene mutation from high-altitude animals improved myelin repair and behavior in mice, suggesting a new pathway for treating multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy.
- A study published March 13 in the journal Neuron identified a genetic mutation in Tibetan Yaks that repairs myelin sheaths, offering potential therapies for MS-like conditions.
- Creatures on the Tibetan Plateau, averaging about 14,700 feet, carry the Retsat gene mutation to survive low-oxygen conditions, which scientists suspected helps maintain healthy white matter despite chronically low oxygen levels.
- Professor Liang Zhang and colleagues exposed mice to low-oxygen conditions equivalent to above 13,000 feet, finding nerve sheaths regenerated "much faster and more completely" in subjects with the mutation.
- Further analysis showed the mutation increases production of ATDR, a metabolite that helps mature oligodendrocytes; injecting nerve-damaged mice with ATDR improved motor function, suggesting a new therapeutic approach.
- Anna Williams, a neurologist at the University of Edinburgh, noted the findings represent "beautiful science," but cautioned a significant step remains before translation to human patients.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Gene from High Altitude Yak Protected and Repaired Myelin Sheath in Early MS Study
A special gene that helps animals like the yak survive at high altitude could enable new treatments for multiple sclerosis after positive findings from a mouse model. The genetic mutation that enables yaks to live in environments with much less oxygen, and may hold the key to repairing nerve damage in conditions such as multiple […] The post Gene from High Altitude Yak Protected and Repaired Myelin Sheath in Early MS Study appeared first on Good…
A genetic mutation that helps animals such as yaks and Tibetan antelopes survive at high altitudes could be the key to repairing nerve damage in conditions such as cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis (MS), according to experts from Jiao Tong University in Shanghai, China. The finding, published in the journal Neuron de Cell Press, reveals a natural pathway that promotes regeneration after nerve damage and could open new doors for the treatment…
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