Role of vitamin D in regulating the neural stem cells of mouse model with multiple sclerosis

S.-G. Gu, C.-J. Wang, G. Zhao, G.-Y. Li

Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China. liguangyao998@hotmail.com

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• Neurology

OBJECTIVE: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that results with a damaged myelin sheath as a result, there is an impairment of nerve impulse conduction. The medication for MS is able to delay its progression, but complete recovery is impossible. Recent studies with neural stem cells have promising results in treating as well as to recover the damaged nerves, but research on in vivo model system is limited in this aspect.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here we are able to successfully establish an MS mice model by injecting with myelin basic protein and we studied the neural stem cell response in supplement with vitamin D.

RESULTS: Through histology we provide strong evidence that the MS pathogenesis is reverted on response to vitamin D. We also identified through immunohistochemistry and western blotting that the vitamin D has the ability to trigger neural stem cells, and thereby it assist in recovery from MS. Further, their roles in preventing as well as delaying the MS development are also proven. The role of vitamin D has also cross checked with the help of tunnel assay.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results conclude that the lesion associated apoptotic signals are reduced on administrated with vitamin D. The present data help to design a new therapeutic intervention to cure MS.

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