Promotion of Oligodendrocyte Differentiation using Hexaraphane (6-(Methylsulfinyl)hexyl Isothiocyanate) in Combination with Recombinant SOX 10 : An In Vitro Study

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease in the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by inflammatory immune cells that invade the brain and the spinal cord, leading to demyelination (myelin loss). The purpose of this paper is to create a thorough research report on remyelination (myelin building) therapies that slow down or cure the adverse impacts of multiple sclerosis through increasing oligodendrocyte differentiation. This was done by exploring the independent and synergistic effects of glucosinolate derivatives, oligodendrocyte transcription factors, and current anti-inflammatory medications to create a novel compound that is able to regulate inflammatory cytokines and also increase expression of the myelin basic protein (MBP) transcription factor, a transcription factor found only in mature, healthy oligodendrocytes. In a tissue culture lab, five independent variables were tested: curcumin, hexaraphane, sulforaphane, recombinant SOX10, and moringin. The cells were cultured with the inclusion of the independent variables and a constant amount of the IL-6 inflammatory cytokine in medium renewal every 2 to 3 days. Inclusion of the IL-6 cytokine was necessary in modeling an inflammatory environment parallel to the one found in multiple sclerosis. Chemical transfection was utilized for every independent variable tested, and data collection included performing a reliable western blot, in which the proteins detected were IL-6 and MBP. After exploring the independent effects, it was found that hexaraphane best promoted oligodendrocyte differentiation and reduction of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6, contrary to the conventional methods of sulforaphane, moringin, and curcumin. Step 2 of the experiment was assessing the synergistic effects of hexaraphane with the other independent variables. We found a new glucosinolate-derived compound, hexaraphane, combined with an increased potency of recombinant SOX10, that best promotes oligodendrocyte differentiation. Demonstrating that remyelination therapies in the future must pair anti-inflammatory molecules with vital transcription factors to maximize remyelination results.