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Icaritin Promotes Myelination by Simultaneously Enhancing the Proliferation and Differentiation of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells

Authors :
Feifei Yang
Han Wen
Siqi Ma
Qi Chang
Ruile Pan
Xinmin Liu
Yonghong Liao
Source :
Molecules, Vol 28, Iss 15, p 5837 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

Myelin repair, which is known as remyelination, is critical to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, and myelination depends on not only the differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells toward oligodendrocytes but also the renewal of oligodendrocyte precursor cells under pathological conditions. However, simultaneously promoting the differentiation and proliferation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells in lesions remains an unmet challenge and might affect demyelinating diseases. Kidney-tonifying herbs of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are effective in improving the symptoms of degenerative patients. However, herbs or compounds with dual functions are unverified. The purpose of this study was to find a kidney-tonifying TCM that synchronously improved the differentiation and proliferation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells under pathological conditions. Compounds with dual functions were screened from highly frequently used kidney-tonifying TCM, and the effects of the obtained compound on remyelination were investigated in an in vitro oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation model under pathological conditions and in demyelinating mice in vivo. The compound icaritin, which is an active component of Yin-Yang-Huo (the leaves of Epimedium brevicornu Maxim), demonstrated multiple effects on the remyelination process, including enhancing oligodendrocyte precursor cell proliferation, facilitating the differentiation of neural progenitor cells toward oligodendrocyte precursor cells and further toward oligodendrocytes, and maturation of oligodendrocytes under corticosterone- or glutamate-induced pathological conditions. Importantly, icaritin effectively rescued behavioral functions and increased the formation of myelin in a cuprizone-induced demyelination mouse model. The multiple effects of icaritin make it a promising lead compound for remyelination therapy.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14203049
Volume :
28
Issue :
15
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Molecules
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.30f96af8dd6e4ecf9a89449af88a4419
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28155837