The Role Of Gas6 And The TAM Receptors In Central Demyelination
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$506,416.00
Summary
In Multiple Sclerosis, oligodendrocytes, the myelin-producing cells of the brain, are damaged and myelin is lost in a process called demyelination. This process also involves the brain's immune cells, called microglia. Both cell types are influenced by a factor called Gas6, which signals through proteins called Tyro3, Axl and Mer. We have shown that levels of Gas6 can affect the severity of demyelination in mice. We plan to further study the effects of these proteins during demyelination.
Cellular Responses To Oligodendrcyte Apoptosis: Modeling The Early Pathogenesis Of Multiple Sclerosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$460,037.00
Summary
In Multiple Sclerosis, oligodendrocytes (the myelin-producing cells of the brain) are damaged and myelin is lost. This process results in damage to nerve cells. We have generated a model of oligodendrocyte death that results in nerve cell damage. We will use this model to understand how nerve cells become damaged when oligodendrocytes die and whether the brain can make new oligodendrocytes to protect nerve cells from further damage.