Biomedical subjects

Stephen P J Fancy

Publications and source records attributed to Stephen P J Fancy.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2022

CRISPRi screens in human iPSC-derived astrocytes elucidate regulators of distinct inflammatory reactive states.

Astrocytes become reactive in response to insults to the central nervous system by adopting context-specific cellular signatures and outputs, but a systematic understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms is lacking. In this study, we developed CRISPR interference screening in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived astrocytes coupled to single-cell transcriptomics to systematically interrogate cytokine-induced inflammatory astrocyte reactivity. We found that autocrine-paracrine IL-6 and interferon signaling downstream of canonical NF-κB activation drove two distinct inflammatory reactive signatures, one promoted by STAT3 and the other inhibited by STAT3. These signatures overlapped with those observed in other experimental contexts, including mouse models, and their markers were upregulated in human brains in Alzheimer's disease and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Furthermore, we validated that markers of these signatures were regulated by STAT3 in vivo using a mouse model of neuroinflammation. These results and the platform that we established have the potential to guide the development of therapeutics to selectively modulate different aspects of inflammatory astrocyte reactivity.

Humans↗

PubMed2006

Olig gene function in CNS development and disease.

Olig1 and Olig2 encode basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors that are expressed in both the developing and mature vertebrate central nervous system. While numerous studies have established critical functions for Olig genes during the formation of motor neurons and oligodendrocytes of the ventral neural tube, their roles at later stages of development and in adulthood have remained relatively obscure. Recent studies, however, reveal that in the fetal dorsal spinal cord and neural progenitor cells of the adult brain, Olig expression continues to mark, and may regulate, the formation of oligodendroglia. Studies of Olig expression in human brain tumors and repair of demyelinating lesions suggest the possibility of additional functions in a variety of neurological diseases.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Mechanisms of CNS remyelination--the key to therapeutic advances.

There are two components to the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS); the first is to prevent damage occurring, and the second is to repair the residual damage. While considerable progress has been made in the recent years with the former through the development of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory therapies, there are currently no effective repair therapies routinely used in MS patients. This represents a significant gap in the MS clinician's therapeutic armoury. In this article we argue that a clear understanding of the repair mechanisms following CNS demyelination is fundamental to filling this gap. We discuss (1) the cellular events involved in remyelination, (2) changes in transcription factor expression within oligodendrocyte precursor cells associated with their activation in response to demyelination, (3) the role of platelet derived growth factor in the OPC recruitment phase of remyelination, and (4) the significance of the inflammatory response associated with demyelination in creating a signalling environment that favours remyelination.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Stem cells, progenitors and myelin repair.

Remyelination, the process by which new myelin sheaths are restored to demyelinated axons, represents one of the most compelling examples of adult multipotent progenitor cells contributing to regeneration of the injured central nervous system (CNS). This process can occur with remarkable efficiency in both clinical disease, such as multiple sclerosis, and in experimental models, revealing an impressive ability of the adult CNS to repair itself. However, the inconsistency of remyelination in multiple sclerosis, and the loss of axonal integrity that results from its failure, makes enhancement of remyelination an important therapeutic objective. Identifying potential targets will depend on a detailed understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of remyelination. In this article we address two important issues. First, we consider the nature of the cell or cells that respond to demyelination and generate new oligodendrocytes, identifying current areas of uncertainty and addressing the role of adult CNS stem and progenitor cells. Second, we discuss the concept of adult progenitor activation following demyelination, focusing on the increased expression of (1) olig transcription factors, (2) bone morphogenetic proteins and (3) fyn, a member of the src-family of tyrosine kinases.

Bone Morphogenetic Proteins↗

PubMed2004

bHLH transcription factor Olig1 is required to repair demyelinated lesions in the CNS.

Olig1 and Olig2 are closely related basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors that are expressed in myelinating oligodendrocytes and their progenitor cells in the developing central nervous system (CNS). Olig2 is necessary for the specification of oligodendrocytes, but the biological functions of Olig1 during oligodendrocyte lineage development are poorly understood. We show here that Olig1 function in mice is required not to develop the brain but to repair it. Specifically, we demonstrate a genetic requirement for Olig1 in repairing the types of lesions that occur in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Increased expression of Nkx2.2 and Olig2 identifies reactive oligodendrocyte progenitor cells responding to demyelination in the adult CNS.

Within the adult CNS, a quiescent population of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) become activated in response to demyelination and give rise to remyelinating oligodendrocytes. During development, OPC differentiation is controlled by several transcription factors including Olig1 and Olig2, and Nkx2.2. We hypothesized that these genes may serve similar functions in activated adult OPCs allowing them to become remyelinating oligodendrocytes and tested this hypothesis by examining their expression during the remyelination of a toxin-induced rodent model of demyelination. During the acute phase of demyelination, OPCs within the lesion increased their expression of Nkx2.2 and Olig2, two transcription factors that in combination are critical for oligodendrocyte differentiation during developmental myelination. This activation was not associated with increases in Sonic hedgehog (Shh) expression, which does not appear essential for CNS remyelination. Consistent with a role in the activation and differentiation of OPCs, these increases were delayed in old adult animals where the rate of remyelination is slowed. Our data suggest the hypothesis that increased expression of Nkx2.2 and Olig2 plays a critically important role in the differentiation of adult OPCs into remyelinating oligodendrocytes and that these genes may present novel targets for therapeutic manipulation in cases where remyelination is impaired.

Animals↗