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INFORMATION FOR

Current, Main Research Projects

Defining the Contribution of Astrocytes and Oligodendrocytes to Genetic MS Susceptibility

We are systematically identifying the MS risk variants that are active in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes and the genes that they perturb. For this, we are generating chromatin accessibility profiles of astrocytes/oligodendrocytes isolated from MS lesions and intersect these profiles with MS risk variants. The resulting list of variants and variant-dependent genes will provide a roadmap of astroglia/oligodendroglia pathways that are dysregulated by MS risk variants and are likely to contribute to glia-mediated MS susceptibility.

Identifying Cellular Phenotypes and Generating Spatial and Functional Maps of their Interactions in MS Lesions

We are combining single nuclear RNA sequencing (sNuc-Seq) of MS lesion tissue with highly multiplexed tissue imaging to identify and localize cellular subpopulations within MS lesions and determine their molecular interactions. We are thus generating spatial and functional maps that provide unprecedented insight into the in situ functionality of lesional cellular subpopulations.

Astrocyte-Derived Exosomes as Biomarkers for MS Progression and Remyelination

Current MS research focuses increasingly on disease progression and myelin repair, and there is a surge of clinical trials that test potentially neuroprotective or remyelinating compounds. These trials face the fundamental challenge that MS progression and remyelination are difficult to quantify in vivo. We are exploring the potential of astrocyte-derived exosomes to monitor and predict disease progression, remyelination and treatment responses.

Deciphering the Role of Aging and Senescence in Multiple Sclerosis Progression

Our research investigates how aging and cellular senescence contribute to multiple sclerosis progression and failure of tissue repair. By integrating human MS brain tissue with extracellular vesicle (exosome) profiling, spatial transcriptomics, and molecular approaches, we aim to identify age-associated changes in glial cells and define how senescent astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and other glial populations influence the diseased CNS. These studies seek to uncover mechanisms linking biological aging to chronic inflammation, impaired remyelination, and neurodegeneration, ultimately identifying potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for progressive MS.

Innovative Techniques in Our Lab Include:

  • Highly multiplexed imaging: Individual histological sections are labeled with 40+ antibodies to capture cellular subpopulations in MS lesions, which place them within the context of the lesion environment, and identify their specific interaction networks.
  • Computational pipeline (Ilastik, CellProfiler, histoCAT, PHATE, and Pseudotime) for cellular segmentation, identification of cellular phenotypes, and spatial analysis
  • Purification of astrocyte and oligodendrocyte nuclei from MS, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's tissue for transcriptomic and genomic profiling with sNuc-Seq and ATAC-Seq
  • CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing of MS patient-derived iPSCs
  • Generation of iPSC-derived astrocytes
  • Purification and quantification of exosomes from patient plasma