Phosphatidic acid promotes remyelination

Yamamoto S, Gotoh M, Kawamura Y, Yamashina K, Yagishita S, Awaji T, Tanaka M, Maruyama K, Murakami-Murofushi K, Yoshikawa K.Cyclic phosphatidic acid treatment suppress cuprizone-induced demyelination and motor dysfunction in mice. Eur J Pharmacol. 2014. pii: S0014-2999(14)00577-9

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system leading to progressive cognitive and motor dysfunction, which is characterized by neuroinflammation, demyelination, astrogliosis, loss of oligodendrocytes, and axonal pathologies. Cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA) is a naturally occurring phospholipid mediator. 
In this study, we investigated the effects of cPA on cuprizone-induced demyelination, which is a model of multiple sclerosis. Mice were fed a diet containing 0.2% cuprizone for 5 weeks, which induces severe demyelination, astrocyte and microglial activation, and motor dysfunction. Simultaneous administration of cPA effectively attenuated cuprizone-induced demyelination, glial activation, and motor dysfunction. These data indicate that cPA may be a useful treatment to reduce the extent of demyelination and the severity of motor dysfunction in multiple sclerosis. cPA is a potential lead compound in the development of drugs for the treatment of this devastating disease

So yet more compounds to promote repair this simple chemical can promote remyelination in mice. Will they be drugs...I suspect not the best..however pharma could make the target druggable

Labels: