Neurotransmitter signalling to two types of oligodendrocyte precursor cell in remyelination

为了大脑和脊髓(中枢神经系统，或CNS)中的神经纤维正常工作，并使我们能够感觉、移动、说话、看和思考等，它们需要被一种称为髓鞘的鞘所覆盖。在许多神经系统疾病中，髓鞘丢失，神经纤维不能正常传导冲动，甚至可能死亡。就像皮肤伤口可以愈合一样，髓鞘损伤可以通过中枢神经系统中存在的干细胞自发愈合。然而，这种称为再髓鞘形成的修复过程经常失败。因此，科学家们正在研究如何鼓励中枢神经系统干细胞更有效地修复髓鞘损伤。在这个项目中，我们将确定两个不同的CNS干细胞在重新髓鞘形成中的作用。当髓鞘最初在发育中的大脑中产生时，这个过程受到神经元释放的称为神经递质的小分子的影响。然而，目前尚不清楚这些神经递质是否会影响重新髓鞘形成。在这个项目中，我们将研究神经递质如何调节一种或两种类型的干细胞的再髓鞘形成。该项目的结果将有助于设计新的髓鞘再生疗法。

For nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system, or CNS) to work properly, and enable us to feel, move, talk, see, think etc., they need to be covered by a sheath called myelin. In many neurological diseases myelin is lost and nerve fibres cannot conduct impulses properly, and may even die. Just as a skin wound can heal, myelin injuries can be healed spontaneously by stem cells present in the CNS. However, this repair process, called remyelination, often fails. Scientists are therefore studying how CNS stem cells can be encouraged to heal myelin injury more efficiently. In this project we will determine the role of two distinct CNS stem cells that we have recently identified in remyelination.When myelin is first produced in the developing brain the process is influenced by small molecules released from neurons, called neurotransmitters. However, it is unknown whether these neurotransmitters can influence remyelination. In this project we will study how remyelination by one or both types of stem cell is regulated by neurotransmitters. The results of this project will help in devising new remyelination therapies.