Dear All,

on behalf of dr Adam Krzystyniak, I would like to cordially invite you, to the next Nencki Institute Seminar which will take place on Thursday, September 7^th at 3pm in the CN lecture Hall. We will host dr. Aleksandra Rutkowska and Assistant Professor at the Division of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the Faculty of Medicine of the Medical Univeristy of Gdańsk.

Aleksandra’s research is focusing on the intercellular signaling in the context of multiple sclerosis with a special focus on glia and on strategies to restore the correct myelination in the central nervous system.

Prof. Rutkowska’s will be entitled: Targeting Central Nervous System Repair in Multiple Sclerosis.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is characterised by chronic inflammation, demyelination, and neuronal damage in the central nervous system. In response, remyelination— the process of rebuilding myelin sheaths around neuronal axons—has emerged as a promising therapeutic avenue. While present therapeutic approaches focus on immune regulation, the critical need to enhance repair capacity in multiple sclerosis remains unmet. The Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 2 (EBI2, aka GPR183) is a key modulator of the innate and adaptive immune system and together with its endogenous ligand, oxysterol 7α,25OHC, has been implicated in a number of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases and multiple sclerosis. Our research indicates that EBI2 accelerates myelin regeneration in vivo and has become a focal point for a potential therapeutic intervention aimed at enhancing remyelination in multiple sclerosis. Nonetheless, both pre-clinical and clinical investigations exploring remyelination interventions reveal a diverse spectrum of strategies and molecular targets. These provide valuable insights into the fundamental mechanisms regulating restoration of myelin. However, translating findings from pre-clinical studies into tangible clinical outcomes presents significant challenges. Is it feasible to successfully transition and advance the pursuit of myelin-restoring therapy for multiple sclerosis?

The seminar will be followed by a get together.

With best wishes

Aleksandra Pękowska