The role of grey matter in repairing myelin in white matter
Our brains are made up of grey matter and white matter. Our grey matter is responsible for processing and interpreting information. White matter is made up of nerve fibres. They allow different parts of our brain to communicate with each other. Myelin gives white matter its colour.
In MS, myelin in the white matter becomes damaged, and messages find it harder to get through – or can’t get through at all. Recently, a small study found myelin damage in the white matter is connected to changes in the grey matter.
Surprisingly, the researchers found that these changes might be essential for myelin repair in the white matter. Early data from a small study showed that the myelin repair in the white matter is less efficient when the researchers prevented the changes in the grey matter from happening. So they think these changes are not harmful. Instead, they believe they might be a natural and essential part of myelin repair.
About the project
The researchers now want to investigate how grey matter changes are connected to myelin repair in the white matter. They will do this using mice with an MS-like condition.
The researchers will focus on three main questions:
- How does damage to myelin in the white matter lead to changes in the grey matter?
- Why are the changes in the grey matter needed for myelin repair in the white matter?
- Can we make use of the changes in the grey matter to make myelin repair more efficient?
How will it help people with MS?
This project could help us to understand more about what is going on in the grey and white matter in people living with MS. Eventually, this could help us identify new targets for treatments for MS.
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