Overview

• Case Western Reserve University's Institute for Glial Sciences reports the findings in Cell on August 25, identifying SOX6 as a key regulator that times oligodendrocyte maturation.
• The team describes a mechanism they call gene melting through which SOX6 keeps oligodendrocytes in an immature state during normal development.
• Analysis of human brain data shows an overabundance of SOX6-linked immature oligodendrocytes in multiple sclerosis samples, a pattern not seen in Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s cohorts examined.
• Reducing SOX6 with an antisense oligonucleotide in mouse models drove rapid oligodendrocyte maturation and local myelination within days.
• The work establishes preclinical proof-of-concept and will require further mechanistic study, safety evaluation, and CNS delivery optimization before human testing.