Nanostructure Saline RNS60 has Potential Benefits for Myelin Maintenance, Repair

RNS60, a charge-stabilized nanostructure, shows potential as a beneficial therapy for demyelinating conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), according to the results of a recent study. Published in the journal Nature, the study was conducted by Vijayaraghava T.S. Rao, PhD, of the Montreal Neurological Institute at McGill University in Quebec, Canada, and colleagues.

Myelin injury in MS is related to oligodendrocyte (OL) mechanisms, and remyelination, say the researchers, “is dependent on recruitment and differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs).” In the present study, the researchers say they “assessed the capacity of RNS60 to protect OLs derived from post-natal rat OPCs from metabolic stress induced injury in vitro.” They further say they “assessed whether RNS60 could promote the differentiation of OPCs into OLs.”

The results of their study showed RNS60 “demonstrates beneficial effects in OLs,” and further, “under basal (physiological) conditions, the product promotes differentiation of OPCs.” A therapy that could reduce the effects of metabolic stress on OPCs and OLs could be an important intervention for MS patients.

The researchers said they used “glucose-nutrient starvation in order to model the metabolic stress conditions that would occur in the microenvironment of MS lesions.” They subjected OLs to this starvation for 35 hours, but no significant cell loss occurred.

Further, they report that the presence of RNS60 indicated “increases in both oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis” which, they said suggests “that RNS60 may enhance OL survival and function when challenged conditions of metabolic stress.”

The researchers conclude, “Addition of RNS60 in vitro promotes OLs survival and OPCs differentiation, supporting the possibility of potentially beneficial therapeutic applications for demyelinating conditions.”