Perspectives for remyelinating therapies in Multiple Sclerosis

In this thesis Nystad has used an experimental animal model, the Cuprizone model, to explore remyelination in Multiple Sclerosis. Nystad has studied both the effect of fingolimod and vitamin D on remyelination and axon damage. Fingolimod showed no effect on remyelination, but mice that were given high dose vitamin D had a better formation of new myelin. The findings in this article suggests that high doses of calcitriol, biologically active vitamin D, may promote remyelination in the brain of mice. Further findings showed that vitamin D contributes to hindering axon loss, if vitamin D was given before and during demyelination. Calcitriol given after demyelination had no effect on axon loss. The main supervisor is Professor Øivind Torkildsen and the co-supervisor is Postdoctor Stig Wergeland. 

A digital copy of the thesis is available and can be accessed by following the links provided here, in the norwegian press release.