Investigating extracellular vesicles and their microRNA cargo in multiple sclerosis

Craig Moore, PhD
Associate Professor
Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine

Date: November 15, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 
Room: CSF 1302

Abstract:

In Canada, multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common neurological disease affecting young adults between the ages of 20-40. At present, this chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease has no known cause or cure. While most individuals with MS initially present with a relapsing form of disease, the majority will eventually transition to a progressive form that unfortunately does not respond to current treatments. Furthermore, within the clinical setting, it is not possible to identify which individual patients will transition to a progressive form and how they may respond to a specific disease-modifying therapy (DMT). One of the goals of my research is to identify novel biomarkers within bodily fluids of MS patients that will help neurologists and patients make better informed decisions regarding their approach to clinical care. Specifically, my research focuses on small nanovesicles, termed extracellular vesicles (EVs), that are released from cells and circulate throughout the body. EVs also contain active biological molecules (i.e. molecular cargo) that are well-known to influence the properties and functions of specific brain cells that are involved in MS disease-specific mechanisms. My research investigates how EVs and their associated cargo can serve as potentialbiomarkers of MS disease activity, progression, and response to various DMTs while also determining how EVs are trafficked throughout the body to influence the activity of immune and neural cells involved in brain injury and repair.