Temporal transcriptomic profiles of brain regions following acute and chronic demyelinating injury

Purpose: The central nervous system (CNS) possesses intrinsic remyelination capabilities in response to demyelinating injury. However, this remyelination potential is diminished as demyelinating disease such as multiple sclerosis progresses overtime. To better understand myelin repair processes, the goal of this study was to determine temporal transcriptomic changes in cerebral white matter (corpus callosum) and gray matter (cortex and hippocampus) after acute and chronic demyelinating injury. The cuprizone mouse model of de- and remyelination was used for this investigation. Methods: Adult C57BL/6 mice were exposed to cuprizone diet (0.2%) for 3, 5 or 12 weeks followed by returning to normal diet for up to 12 weeks for recovery. Brain regions were dissected for bulk RNA-seq. Conclusion: RNA-seq analyses suggest common and distinct spatiotemporal transcriptional alterations during CNS demyelination and remyelination. Dataset for this study represents the first that covers gene expression landscapes of three brain regions over extended regenerative periods after chronic CNS demyelination. Overall design: Performed bulk RNA sequencing using isolated corpus callosum, hippocampus, cortex at different time points after acute (3-5 wks) and chronic (12 wks) cuprizone exposure.