Remyelination is extensive in a subset of multiple sclerosis patients
Open accessAbstract
Although spontaneous remyelination does occur in multiple sclerosis lesions, its extent within the global population with this disease is presently unknown. We have systematically analysed the incidence and distribution of completely remyelinated lesions (so-called shadow plaques) or partially remyelinated lesions (shadow plaque areas) in 51 autopsies of patients with different clinical courses and disease durations. The extent of remyelination was variable between cases. In 20% of the patients, the extent of remyelination was extensive with 60-96% of the global lesion area remyelinated. Extensive remyelination was found not only in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, but also in a subset of patients with progressive disease. Older age at death and longer disease duration were associated with significantly more remyelinated lesions or lesion areas. No correlation was found between the extent of remyelination and either gender or age at disease onset. These results suggest that the variable and patient-dependent extent of remyelination must be considered in the design of future clinical trials aimed at promoting CNS repair.
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On average, in MS, only 20% of patients display efficient (above 60%) remyelination of lesions as shown by histochemistry in shadow plaques.
“On average, in MS, only 20% of patients display efficient (above 60%) remyelination of lesions as shown by histochemistry in areas of pale myelin stain called “shadow plaques” (16).”
From BCAS1 expression defines a population of early myelinating oligodendrocytes in multiple sclerosis lesions (2017) · cites this paper as [16]
The efficacy of remyelination depends on multiple factors such as age, disease duration and lesion location.
“The efficacy of remyelination has been shown to depend on multiple factors such as, age, disease duration and lesion location.”
From BCAS1-positive oligodendrocytes enable efficient cortical remyelination in multiple sclerosis (2025) · cites this paper as [11]
About 20-30% of examined postmortem MS tissues show signs of remyelination, which can happen at both early and late stages of the disease.
“About 20–30% of examined postmortem MS tissues show signs of remyelination, which can happen at both early and late stages of the disease [85,86].”
From How to Use the Cuprizone Model to Study De- and Remyelination (2024) · cites this paper as [85]
Remyelination frequently occurs after demyelinating events but is often incomplete.
“Although remyelination frequently occurs after demyelinating events, it is often incomplete (Patrikios et al., 2006; Goldschmidt et al., 2009).”
From Glial response during cuprizone-induced de- and remyelination in the CNS: lessons learned (2014) · cites this paper as Patrikios et al., 2006
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- Authors
- Patrikios, P., Stadelmann, C., Kutzelnigg, A., Rauschka, H., Schmidbauer, M., Laursen, H., Sorensen, P. S., Bruck, W., Lucchinetti, C., & Lassmann, H.
- Affiliations
- University of Vienna (AT)
- University of Göttingen (DE)
- Rigshospitalet (DK)
- Mayo Clinic (US)
- Corresponding author
- Patrikios, P.
- Venue
- Brain
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2006-06-09
- Volume
- 129
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 3165-3172
- ISSN
- 0006-8950 (ISSN-L)
- 1460-2156
- OpenAlex
- W2148353419
- Cited by
- 807
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 34 · 2024: 42 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 54 · 2020: 47 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 46 · 2016: 37 · 2015: 39 · 2014: 48 · 2013: 46 · 2012: 41
- FWCI
- 27.74
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Brain (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- GRO (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- European Commission
- Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01-NS049577-01A2, R01NS049577)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Spinal Cord Injury Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Keywords
- remyelination, multiple sclerosis, relapsing multiple sclerosis, progressive multiple sclerosis, age at death, disease duration, CNS repair
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Autopsy, Myelin Basic Protein, Female, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Male, Middle Aged, Multiple Sclerosis, Myelin Sheath, Nerve Fibers, Myelinated, Sex Factors, Time Factors, Prosencephalon, Age of Onset, Disease Progression, Myelin Proteolipid Protein
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