About This Project

Oligodendrocytes are cells of the central nervous system that support neuronal activity by producing the myelin sheath, an insulating envelope that surrounds the axons of neurons and increases the speed of conduction of neuronal signals. Myelin plays critical roles in brain function, and abnormal myelination causes debilitating diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis. I want to study the oligodendrocytes of the cerebral cortex, the most complex region of the brain.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Although our knowledge of the biology of neurons has increased steadily over time, very little is known about the biology of oligodendrocytes, For example, it is still not known whether these cells constitutes a single homogeneous population or if multiple subtypes coexist; if you think at neurodegenerative disorders, it is known that many of them primarily affect specific types of neurons, while sparing others (e.g. Huntington disease affects neurons of the striatum, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis affects neurons of the spinal cord). Conversely, when we talk about myelin disorders (e.g. Multiple Sclerosis, Vanishing white matter, Pelizaeus-Merzbacher) we refer to them as diseases of a single population, in which the cells are all alike in all regions of the nervous system. Is this true?

What is the significance of this project?

For over a century, scientists have focused all their efforts in studying neurons, as the most important cell type of the brain. However, neurons do not function properly if other cell types did not coexist with them; among such cell types, oligodendrocytes are fundamental for neuron signal transmission; however, we still know very little about oligodendrocytes biology, function and, most importantly about the genes necessary for myelin production in the brain. Finding these genes is fundamental, because it may help us find novel therapeutic approaches to treat or cure pathologies affecting myelin formation and/or maintenance.

What are the goals of the project?

I want to perform single-cell measurement of gene expression by purifing individual oligodendrocytes from the cerebral cortex of genetically modified mice where these cells are labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP). After single-cell sorting, I will extract and analyze the genetic material from each individual cell by using last generation techniques (i.e. single cell-RNA DropSeq; learn more here and here). I expect to find novel genes that may reveal hidden subpopulations of oligodendrocytes, each with specific functions and/or different susceptibility to distinct myelin diseases.