Differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) is the most important event for the myelination of central nervous system (CNS) axons during development and remyelination in demyelinating diseases, while the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here we show that NMDA receptor (NMDAR) is a functional regulator of OPCs differentiation and remyelination. First, GluN1, GluN2A, and GluN2B subunits are expressed in oligodendrocyte lineage cells (OLs) in vitro and in vivo by immunostaining and Western blot analysis. Second, in a purified rat OPC culture system, NMDARs specially mediate OPCs differentiation by enhancing myelin proteins expression and the processes branching at the immature to mature oligodendrocyte transition analyzed by a serial of developmental stage-specific antigens. Moreover, pharmacological NMDAR antagonists or specific knockdown of GluN1 by RNA interference in OPCs prevents the differentiation induced by NMDA. NMDA can activate the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signal in OPCs and the pro-differentiation effect of NMDA is obstructed by the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin, suggesting NMDAR exerts its effect through mTOR-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, NMDA increases numbers of myelin segments in DRG-OPC cocultures. Finally, NMDAR specific antagonist MK801 delays remyelination in the cuprizone model examined by LFB-PAS, immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. This effect appears to result from inhibiting OPCs differentiation as more NG2(+) OPCs but less GST-π(+) mature oligodendrocytes are observed. Together, these results indicate that NMDAR plays a critical role in the regulation of OPCs differentiation in vitro and remyelination in cuprizone model which may provide potential target for the treatment of demyelination disease.

Differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) into mature oligodendrocytes is a prerequisite for remyelination after demyelination, and impairment of this process is suggested to be a major reason for remyelination failure. Diosgenin, a plant‐derived steroid, has been implicated for therapeutic use in many diseases, but little is known about its effect on the central nervous system. In this study, using a purified rat OPC culture model, we show that diosgenin significantly and specifically promotes OPC differentiation without affecting the viability, proliferation, or migration of OPC. Interestingly, the effect of diosgenin can be blocked by estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI 182780 but not by glucocorticoid and progesterone receptor antagonist RU38486, nor by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spirolactone. Moreover, it is revealed that both ER‐alpha and ER‐beta are expressed in OPC, and diosgenin can activate the extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in OPC via ER. The pro‐differentiation effect of diosgenin can also be obstructed by the ERK inhibitor PD98059. Furthermore, in the cuprizone‐induced demyelination model, it is demonstrated that diosgenin administration significantly accelerates/enhances remyelination as detected by Luxol fast blue stain, MBP immunohistochemistry and real time RT‐PCR. Diosgenin also increases the number of mature oligodendrocytes in the corpus callosum while it does not affect the number of OPCs. Taking together, our results suggest that diosgenin promotes the differentiation of OPC into mature oligodendrocyte through an ER‐mediated ERK1/2 activation pathway to accelerate remyelination, which implicates a novel therapeutic usage of this steroidal natural product in demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Summary Romosozumab, which binds sclerostin, rebuilds the skeletal foundation before transitioning to antiresorptive treatment. This subgroup analysis of an international, randomized, double-blind study in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis showed efficacy and safety outcomes for romosozumab followed by denosumab in Japanese women were generally consistent with those for the overall population. Purpose In the international, randomized, double-blind, phase 3 FRActure study, in postmenopausal woMen with ostEoporosis (FRAME; NCT01575834), romosozumab followed by denosumab significantly improved bone mineral density (BMD) and reduced fracture risk. This report evaluates Japanese women in FRAME. Methods Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (T-score − 3.5 to − 2.5 at total hip or femoral neck) received romosozumab 210 mg or placebo subcutaneously monthly for 12 months, then each group received denosumab 60 mg subcutaneously every 6 months for 24 months. The key endpoint for Japanese women was BMD change. Other endpoints included new vertebral, clinical, and nonvertebral fracture; the subgroup analysis did not have adequate power to demonstrate statistically significant reductions. Results Of 7180 enrolled subjects, 492 (6.9%) were Japanese (247 romosozumab, 245 placebo). BMD increases from baseline were greater ( P < 0.001) for romosozumab-to-denosumab than placebo-to-denosumab at the lumbar spine (36 months, 12.7%), total hip (4.2%), and femoral neck (4.1%). Fracture risk was lower through 36 months for romosozumab-to-denosumab vs placebo-to-denosumab for new vertebral (1.7% vs 4.5%; relative risk reduction (RRR) 63%, P = 0.070), clinical (3.2% vs 7.3%; RRR 53%, P = 0.072), nonvertebral (2.8% vs 6.1%; RRR 50%, P = 0.12), and all other fracture types evaluated. Rates of adverse events and positively adjudicated serious cardiovascular events were generally balanced between groups. Conclusions Efficacy and safety for romosozumab-to-denosumab were similar between Japanese women and the overall population. The sequence of romosozumab to rebuild the skeletal foundation before transitioning to antiresorptive treatment with denosumab is a promising regimen for Japanese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk of fracture. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s11657-019-0608-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) originate from restricted regions of the brain and migrate into the developing white matter, where they differentiate into oligodendrocytes and myelinate axons in the central nervous system (CNS). The molecular mechanisms that orchestrate these long distance trips of OPCs to populate throughout the CNS are poorly understood. Emerging evidence has argued the expression of N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors (NMDARs) in oligodendrocyte lineage cells in vivo, but their physiological function remains elusive. We have previously demonstrated the expression and function of NMDARs in OPC differentiation and myelination/remyelination. Here, we show that NMDARs stimulation promotes OPC migration both by chemotaxis and chemokinesis as demonstrated by various cell migration systems including Boyden transwell, single cell, matrix-gel cell mass, and SVZ tissue explants assays. The pro-migration effect of NMDAR can be abolished by either pharmacological inhibition or shRNA knock down of the T lymphoma invasion and metastasis 1 (Tiam1), a Rac1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor (Rac1-GEF) which is coexpressed and interacts with NMDAR in OPCs. Moreover, NMDAR stimulation evokes cascade activation of the Tiam1/Rac1/ERK signaling pathway which mediates its effect on OPC migration. We also show that glutamate released from cultured cortical neuron promotes OPCs migration via NMDAR, and that antagonism of NMDAR or inhibition of Tiam1 blocks the endogenous glutamate-induced OPCs migration from SVZ to cortical plate in the embryonic brain slice culture. Thus, our result suggests a critical role of NMDAR in regulation of OPCs migration during CNS development by coupling to and activating the Tiam1/Rac1 pathway.

Background/AimsNaked mole rats (NMRs) spend their lives in burrow systems containing very low levels of oxygen, indicating long-term hypoxic exposure, and suggesting that pathological changes caused by hypoxia are attenuated or absent in this hypoxia-tolerant species. The mechanisms underlying NMRs hypoxia tolerance remain poorly understood. In this study, we explored whether hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) play a role in NMRs adaption to hypoxia.MethodsPrimary hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) isolated from NMRs and mice were treated with 50 μM YC-1, 50 μM KC7F2 or VEGFA siRNA. HIF-1α or VEGFA expression was detected by Western blot and real-time PCR. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. The expression of autophagy markers (LC3 and p62) was detected by Western blot.ResultsOur results showed that HIF-1α and VEGFA expression in NMRs was significantly higher than in hypoxia-sensitive mice. Inhibition of HIF-1α expression induced apoptosis in both NMR and mouse HSCs following hypoxia. However, blocking VEGFA transcription results in a significant increase of apoptosis in both NMR and mouse HSCs before and after hypoxia. In addition, NMR HSCs displayed higher levels of autophagy (ratio of LC3ΙΙ/LC3Ι = 9.6) than mouse HSCs (relative ratio of LC3ΙΙ/ LC3Ι = 4.9) under hypoxic conditions.ConclusionWe conclude that HIF-1α activation may be an important mechanism for hypoxia adaption. However, high expression of VEGFA follows HIF-1α activation in NMRs.