Description of Research Expertise

Research Interests
Our lab studies the controls on the development of oligodendrocytes, the myelinating cells of the central nervous system, from stem cells through to myelination.

Key words: oligodendrocytes, myelin, growth factors, programmed cell death, bone marrow stromal cells.

Description of Research
In the central nervous system, oligodendrocytes synthesize myelin as an extension of their plasma membranes. This myelin wraps axons and allows rapid and efficient conduction of nervous impulses. Destruction of myelin through injury or disease causes extreme loss of function. Our goal is to try to facilitate remyelination after injury or disease by learning how to manipulate the development of mature oligodendrocytes from neuroepithelial stem cells, a process controlled by extrinsic cell signaling, intrinsic factors, and a variety of regulatory processes. We have three ongoing projects the lab. In the first, we are trying to determine the role of bone morphogenetic protein in oligodendrocyte development. This growth factor has a repressive effect on lineage progression and myelination in tissue culture but its actual role in development is unknown. Our second project looks at the role of programmed cell death in the demise of oligodendrocytes in an animal model of a dysmyelinating disease. Our third project investigates the use of human bone marrow stromal cells to both replace and stimulate the development of oligodendrocytes in de- and dysmyelinating disease.

Rotation Projects for 2006-2007
1. Migration of oligodendroctyes in an explant model
2. Role of dorsal inhibitors in oligodendrocyte development
3. Role of inhibitors of myelination in an animal model of multiple sclerosis

Lab personnel:
Polina Mamontov research assistant
Marge Williams research assistant
Jill See graduate student
Keith Feigenson graduate student