Abstract

Oligodendrocytes form the myelin within the brain and the spinal cord and have long been known to be heterogenous – in morphology, developmental origin and regionally. However, more recently, it has become clear that these cells are also heterogeneous in their transcriptome, suggesting differences in their functional capabilities. Single nucleus RNA sequencing has identified these differences in normal human brains, which are not identical to mice oligodendrocytes and these are different again in post mortem brains of people with MS. Recently, we have expanded this analysis to include more samples from more people with MS, finding patterns of responses between donors suggesting different pathological/regenerative responses, suggesting possible ways to stratify patients. We can use this knowledge to understand disease (MS and vascular dementia where demyelination also occurs) and to design ways to functionally aid oligodendrocytes to repair myelin and protect neural networks better.

Affiliation and short bio

Anna is Professor of Regenerative Neurology and runs a research group in the Institute of Regeneration and Repair at the University of Edinburgh. She is also a consultant neurologist, with a busy clinic in the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic. Anna did her medical training at the University of Edinburgh, also with a bachelor’s degree in Pathology. She carried out a PhD in the laboratory of Prof Peter Brophy, on the action of Periaxin in inherited peripheral nerve demyelinating diseases. After a few more years as a doctor, she then moved to Paris, France for a post-doctoral position in the laboratory of Prof. Catherine Lubetzki, where she moved into studying myelin in the context of multiple sclerosis.  She moved back to Edinburgh to start her own research group in 2008, funded by the Wellcome Trust, and then by the Chief Scientist’s Office. She received her personal chair in Regenerative Neurology in 2016. Her research group is interested primarily in understanding how the myelin of the central nervous system is maintained and repaired in diseases such as multiple sclerosis and cerebral small vessel disease, with the ultimate aim of trying to improve this and therefore improve patient therapies. 

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