Potential of Neuregulin-1 treatment in progressive MS

Start Term
End Term
Funding Amount
$300,000
Affiliation(s)
University of Manitoba
Geographic Region(s) / Province(s)
Manitoba
Researcher(s)
Dr. Soheila Karimi
Research Priorities
Repair/Remyelination
Impact Goal(s)
Understand and Halt Disease Progression

Summary:

  • Effective therapies for progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) will require neuroprotective strategies to prevent nerve damage and repair strategies to replace damaged myelin, the protective coating of nerve fibres.  
  • Previous work from Dr. Soheila Karimi’s research team identified a candidate treatment, called Neuregulin -1, that has potential to promote remyelination and improve immune response to prevent damage to nerve fibres. In this study, the researchers aim to build on previous findings by evaluating the efficacy of Neuregulin-1 as a regenerative treatment in mice with progressive MS, particularly in improving impaired cognition, mobility, and sensation. 
  • This research may lead to new treatments that can slow and/or prevent progressive MS.

Project Description:     
In MS, the body’s own immune system attacks and damages the protective layer around nerve fibres called myelin. Initially, the body tries to restore the damaged myelin, however as the disease progresses there is a decline in myelin repair causing permanent damage to nerve fibres and increased disability in people with progressive MS. Currently, there are no effective treatments for progressive MS that can target and restore damaged myelin.

Dr. Soheila Karimi and team have discovered that this failure of myelin repair may be in part due to the depletion of a protein called Neuregulin-1 in chronic lesions in both animal models and humans with progressive MS. They also found that treatment with Neuregulin-1 can promote formation of new myelin and improve immune response to prevent damage to nerve fibres in animal models with progressive MS. Through this study, the researchers will build on previous findings and further evaluate the potential of Neuregulin-1 as a neuroprotective and regenerative treatment for progressive MS using mouse models with MS-like disease. They will examine the effects of Neuregulin-1 in improving symptoms like impaired cognition, mobility, and sensation.

Potential Impact: This research will provide important insights on pathways involved in neuroprotection and repair processes in MS.  Neuregulin-1 has already been shown to be safe in humans and is an FDA-approved treatment for heart repair. Future clinical trials will be needed to show the efficacy of Neuregulin-1 in people living with MS. If proven to be effective in MS, Neuregulin-1 has high potential as a fast-tracked therapy for progressive MS.

Project Status: In Progress