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Transient gene melting governs the timing of oligodendrocyte maturation [ATAC-seq]

ABSTRACT: Cellular maturation is a crucial step for tissue formation and function, distinct from the initial steps of differentiation and cell fate specification. In the central nervous system, failure of oligodendrocyte maturation is linked to diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Here, we report a transcriptional mechanism that governs the timing of oligodendrocyte maturation. After progenitor cells differentiate into immature oligodendrocytes, the transcription factor SOX6 redistributes from super enhancers to cluster across specific gene bodies. These sites exhibit extensive chromatin decondensation and transcription, which abruptly turn off upon maturation. Suppression of SOX6 deactivates these immaturity loci, accelerating the transition to mature, myelinating oligodendrocytes. Notably, cells harboring this immature SOX6 gene signature are enriched in multiple sclerosis patient brains. Antisense oligonucleotide-mediated Sox6 knockdown drives precocious oligodendrocyte maturation in mice. Our findings establish SOX6 as a key regulator of oligodendrocyte maturation and highlight its potential as a therapeutic target to promote myelination in disease.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE182558 | GEO | 2023/09/01

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Multiple sclerosis involves an aberrant autoimmune response and progressive failure of remyelination in the central nervous system. Prevention of neural degeneration and subsequent disability requires remyelination through the generation of new oligodendrocytes, but current treatments exclusively target the immune system. Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells are stem cells in the central nervous system and the principal source of myelinating oligodendrocytes. These cells are abundant in demyelinated regions of patients with multiple sclerosis, yet fail to differentiate, thereby representing a cellular target for pharmacological intervention. To discover therapeutic compounds for enhancing myelination from endogenous oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, we screened a library of bioactive small molecules on mouse pluripotent epiblast stem-cell-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. Here we show seven drugs function at nanomolar doses selectively to enhance the generation of mature oligodendrocytes from progenitor cells in vitro. Two drugs, miconazole and clobetasol, are effective in promoting precocious myelination in organotypic cerebellar slice cultures, and in vivo in early postnatal mouse pups. Systemic delivery of each of the two drugs significantly increases the number of new oligodendrocytes and enhances remyelination in a lysolecithin-induced mouse model of focal demyelination. Administering each of the two drugs at the peak of disease in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mouse model of chronic progressive multiple sclerosis results in striking reversal of disease severity. Immune response assays show that miconazole functions directly as a remyelinating drug with no effect on the immune system, whereas clobetasol is a potent immunosuppressant as well as a remyelinating agent. Mechanistic studies show that miconazole and clobetasol function in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells through mitogen-activated protein kinase and glucocorticoid receptor signalling, respectively. Furthermore, both drugs enhance the generation of human oligodendrocytes from human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in vitro. Collectively, our results provide a rationale for testing miconazole and clobetasol, or structurally modified derivatives, to enhance remyelination in patients. RNA sequencing of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells treated with vehicle, miconazole or clobetasol for 0, 2, 6, or 12 hours. Cells were plated 1.5 hours prior to addition of drug.

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Transient gene melting governs the timing of oligodendrocyte maturation [ATAC-seq]

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