Remyelination in humans due to a retinoid-X receptor agonist is age-dependent

Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2022 Jul;9(7):1090-1094. doi: 10.1002/acn3.51595. Epub 2022 May 19.

Abstract

Remyelination efficiency declines with advancing age in animal models, but this has been harder to demonstrate in people with multiple sclerosis. We show that bexarotene, a putatively remyelinating retinoid-X receptor agonist, shortened the visual evoked potential latency in patients with chronic optic neuropathy aged under 42 years only (with the effect diminishing by 0.45 ms per year of age); and increased the magnetization transfer ratio of deep gray matter lesions in those under 43 years only. Addressing this age-related decline in human remyelination capacity will be an important step in the development of remyelinating therapies that work across the lifespan.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Bexarotene* / pharmacology
  • Bexarotene* / therapeutic use
  • Evoked Potentials, Visual / drug effects
  • Evoked Potentials, Visual / physiology
  • Humans
  • Multiple Sclerosis / complications
  • Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy
  • Multiple Sclerosis / physiopathology
  • Optic Nerve Diseases* / drug therapy
  • Optic Nerve Diseases* / etiology
  • Optic Nerve Diseases* / physiopathology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Agents* / pharmacology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Remyelination* / drug effects
  • Remyelination* / physiology
  • Retinoid X Receptors* / administration & dosage
  • Retinoid X Receptors* / agonists
  • Retinoid X Receptors* / pharmacology
  • Retinoids / administration & dosage
  • Retinoids / pharmacology

Substances

  • Peripheral Nervous System Agents
  • Retinoid X Receptors
  • Retinoids
  • Bexarotene