Cortical remyelination is heterogeneous in multiple sclerosis
Open accessAbstract
Cortical lesions (CLs) are an important component of multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology; they correlate better with physical disability and cognitive impairment than white matter lesions (WMLs). Because remyelination can be extensive in CLs, we quantified remyelination in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM), addressing oligodendrocyte (OGD) maturation state and clinical relevance of remyelination. Brain tissue samples from 21 chronic MS patients were immunohistochemically stained for myelin proteolipid protein, Olig2, which is strongly expressed in OGD precursor cells (OPCs), but weakly expressed in mature OGDs and other OGD markers. Sections were scored for the presence of normal-appearing WM and GM, de- and remyelination, and OPC and OGD cell counts. Remyelination was significantly more extensive in CLs than in WMLs with a trend toward more GM remyelination in primary progressive MS (PPMS) vs relapse-onset MS patients. More OPCs were found in remyelinated and nonremyelinated CLs vs remyelinated WMLs and nonremyelinated WMLs. Thus, there is more remyelination in the GM than in the WM in MS patient brains, with a trend toward more remyelination in those with PPMS. There does not seem to be a significant OPC recruitment failure in the GM, which casts new light on the process of remyelination failure.
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In multiple sclerosis, remyelination occurs in both white and grey matter and is more efficient in the cortex than in white matter lesions in the same patient.
“In patients with multiple sclerosis, remyelination has been observed in both white and grey matter and found to be more efficient in the cortex.”
From BCAS1-positive oligodendrocytes enable efficient cortical remyelination in multiple sclerosis (2025) · cites this paper as [16]
Remyelination after a demyelinating insult is more efficient in the cerebral cortex compared to the white matter.
“Previous studies in human post-mortem tissue and experimental models suggested that remyelination after a demyelinating insult is more efficient in the cerebral cortex compared to the white matter.”
From BCAS1-positive oligodendrocytes enable efficient cortical remyelination in multiple sclerosis (2025) · cites this paper as [16]
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- Authors
- Strijbis, E. M. M., Kooi, E.-J., van der Valk, P., & Geurts, J. J. G.
- Affiliations
- Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Strijbis, Eva M.M.
- Venue
- Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2017-04-07
- Volume
- 76
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 390-401
- ISSN
- 0022-3069 (ISSN-L)
- 1554-6578
- OpenAlex
- W2604958399
- Cited by
- 82
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 6.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- pure.amsterdamumc.nl
- Licence
- other-oa
- Locations
- Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Pure Amsterdam UMC (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Amsterdam UMC (VU Amsterdam) - Institutional Repository (publishedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Biogen
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Keywords
- multiple sclerosis, cortical lesions, white matter lesions, oligodendrocyte precursor cells, oligodendrocyte maturation, Olig2, proteolipid protein, primary progressive multiple sclerosis, remyelination failure, gray matter
- MeSH terms
- Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cell Count, Cerebral Cortex, Demyelinating Diseases, Female, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Male, Middle Aged, Multiple Sclerosis, Myelin Sheath, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Oligodendroglia, Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins, Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors, Neural Stem Cells, White Matter, Gray Matter
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