title: Immune-modifying agents do not impair the survival, migration or proliferation of oligodendrocyte progenitors (CG-4) in vitro.
abstract: Limited intrinsic myelin repair occurs in multiple sclerosis (MS), mediated by oligodendrocyte progenitors that divide and migrate into demyelinated lesions. Experimental remyelination suggests that this repair restores function and may protect axons from subsequent degeneration. Immunomodulatory drugs such as corticosteroids, interferon-beta and azathioprine are widely used in MS. However, their influence on disease progression is modest, for reasons that are not fully explained. The direct effects of these drugs on remyelination biology remain relatively unexplored. We have investigated the effect of these MS therapies on oligodendrocyte progenitors to identify whether drug treatment might directly compromise repair, either therapeutic or spontaneous. None of these drugs affected CG-4 survival, migration or proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Halfpenny
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Scolding
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D016899:Interferon-beta; D001379:Azathioprine