Corticosteroids delay remyelination of experimental demyelination in the rodent central nervous system

Chari, Divya M.; Zhao, Chao; Kotter, Mark R.; Blakemore, William F.; Franklin, Robin J.M.

Abstract

High dose corticosteroid (CS) administration is a common mode of therapy in treatment of acute relapses in multiple sclerosis (MS) but the effects of CS on remyelination and the cellular mechanisms mediating this repair process are controversial. We have examined CS effects on repair of toxin-induced demyelinating lesions in the adult rat spinal cord. Corticosteroids reduced the extent of oligodendrocyte remyelination at 1 month post lesion (whereas Schwann-cell mediated repair was unaffected). However, CS did not cause permanent impairment of remyelination as lesions were fully remyelinated at 2 months after cessation of treatment. The delay in oligodendrocyte mediated repair could be attributed to inhibition of differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) into oligodendrocytes, with no effect of CS treatment observed on OPC colonisation of the lesions. No differences were observed in animals treated with methylprednisolone succinate alone or with a subsequent prednisone taper indicating that CS effects occur at an early stage of repair. The potential consequences of delayed remyelination in inflammatory lesions are discussed. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Citation

Chari, D. M., Zhao, C., Kotter, M. R., Blakemore, W. F., & Franklin, R. J. (2006). Corticosteroids delay remyelination of experimental demyelination in the rodent central nervous system. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 83(4), 594-605. https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.20763

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Jan 20, 2006
• Publication Date: 2006-03
• Deposit Date: Jun 11, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Neuroscience Research
• Print ISSN: 0360-4012
• Electronic ISSN: 1097-4547
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 83
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 594-605
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.20763
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/848917