In a new study, researchers have identified a distinct histone tag in adult oligodendrocyte progenitor cells that may pave the way for innovative therapies targeting myelin repair, a critical target for multiple sclerosis. The histone tag, characterized by lysine 8 acetylation on histone H4 protein, identifies a significant departure from the histone modifications found in neonatal OPCs.

The discovery of this unique histone tag in adult OPCs, by researchers with the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center, addresses a long-standing challenge in neurobiology: the inability to translate findings from neonatal OPCs to effective adult brain therapies. Unlike their neonatal counterparts, adult OPCs exhibit a histone modification that appears to regulate their proliferation. This is a crucial factor for generating a pool of stem-like cells that are capable of developing into mature oligodendrocytes that produce new myelin — the protective sheath around nerve fibers that is often damaged in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases.

The study highlights lysine 8 acetylation on histone H4 as a key marker in adult OPCs, distinguishing them from neonatal OPCs. Understanding this regulatory mechanism opens new avenues for developing targeted therapies aimed at promoting myelin repair in the adult brain.

According to the researchers, the identification of this histone tag provides a clearer understanding of OPC proliferation in the adult brain, and it also holds promise for developing more effective therapies for conditions characterized by myelin damage such as MS. By focusing on adult OPCs, researchers can move closer to repairing myelin damage and improving patient outcomes.

The findings underscore the importance of targeting adult-specific cellular mechanisms in neurotherapeutic research. The study’s authors said future investigations will aim to further clarify the role of lysine 8 acetylation on histone H4 and explore its potential in clinical applications.

The findings were published in The Journal of Cell Biology.