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Metformin promotes CNS remyelination and improves social interaction following focal demyelination through CBP Ser436 phosphorylation

Kosaraju J, Seegobin M, Gouveia A, Syal C, Sarma SN, Lu KJ, Ilin J, He L et al.

Experimental neurology, 2020

Abstract

Individuals with demyelinating diseases often experience difficulties during social interactions that are not well studied in preclinical models. Here, we describe a novel juvenile focal corpus callosum demyelination murine model exhibiting a social interaction deficit. Using this preclinical murine demyelination model, we discover that application of metformin, an FDA-approved drug, in this model promotes oligodendrocyte regeneration and remyelination and improves the social interaction. This beneficial effect of metformin acts through stimulating Ser436 phosphorylation in CBP, a histone acetyltransferase. In addition, we found that metformin acts through two distinct molecular pathways to enhance oligodendrocyte precursor (OPC) proliferation and differentiation, respectively. Metformin enhances OPC proliferation through early-stage autophagy inhibition, while metformin promotes OPC differentiation into mature oligodendrocytes through activating CBP Ser436 phosphorylation. In summary, we identify that metformin is a promising remyelinating agent to improve juvenile demyelination-associated social interaction deficits by promoting oligodendrocyte regeneration and remyelination.

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