Metabolomics-based discovery of a metabolite that enhances oligodendrocyte maturation.

ABSTRACT: Endogenous metabolites play essential roles in the regulation of cellular identity and activity. Here we have investigated the process of oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) differentiation, a process that becomes limiting during progressive stages of demyelinating diseases, including multiple sclerosis, using mass-spectrometry-based metabolomics. Levels of taurine, an aminosulfonic acid possessing pleotropic biological activities and broad tissue distribution properties, were found to be significantly elevated (∼20-fold) during the course of oligodendrocyte differentiation and maturation. When added exogenously at physiologically relevant concentrations, taurine was found to dramatically enhance the processes of drug-induced in vitro OPC differentiation and maturation. Mechanism of actio

SUBMITTER: Beyer BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5928791 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature