Impaired peroxisome biogenesis and signaling in progressive MS

Start Term
End Term
Funding Amount
$300,000
Affiliation(s)
University of Alberta
Geographic Region(s) / Province(s)
Alberta
Researcher(s)
Dr. Christopher Power
Research Priorities
Progressive MS
Impact Goal(s)
Understand and Halt Disease Progression

Summary: 

  • In MS, the protective layer surrounding nerve fibers called myelin becomes damaged and lost as a result of inflammation. Peroxisomes are cellular structures that are involved in immune system regulation and myelin production in the central nervous system. 
  • Dr. Christopher Power and team will examine whether impaired function of peroxisomes contributes to inflammation and injury in the central nervous system, specifically in people with progressive MS. 
  • This research will provide further understanding of the underlying disease processes in progressive MS, which will be important for developing effective therapies. 

Project Description: 

Current therapies have limited impact in people with progressive MS. In order to develop new therapies for progressive MS, it is important to better understand the underlying disease mechanisms.

Dr. Christopher Power and team are investigating peroxisomes, a specific cellular structure that is responsible for making myelin, the protective coating surrounding nerve fibres, and for regulating immune responses. Damage to peroxisomes drives neuroinflammation, demyelination and nerve fibre injury in progressive MS. 

This project aims to identify the factors and pathways involved in disrupting peroxisome function to uncover the mechanisms that underpin progressive MS. Overall, the researchers will use tissues from the brain and spinal cord of people with MS as well as cell and animal models to identify pathways and genes that contribute to peroxisome damage. 

Potential Impact: Knowledge from this study has the potential to identify new markers of disease and new targets for treatment. Learnings from this research can also be applied to other progressive brain diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Lou Gehrig’s diseases. 

Project Status: In Progress