madman
Super Moderator
Steroid hormones exert major influences on the development and functioning of the nervous system, extending well beyond their reproductive effects. There is now also strong experimental evidence for an important role of these hormones in myelin formation. The recent finding that testosterone, via the intracellular androgen receptor, promotes myelin repair, may inspire neurobiologists to take a closer look at this hormone. It also opens new therapeutic opportunities for androgen receptor ligands in the treatment of myelin disorders.
In conclusion, we propose that natural or synthetic ligands of the AR offer new and promising opportunities for boosting the endogenous capacity of myelin repair in patients with demyelinating diseases. Long-term testosterone treatment has been proven safe, and outcomes of a first clinical trial in men with relapsing-remitting MS have been very encouraging. Moreover, testosterone and synthetic androgens have the advantage of easily crossing the blood–brain barrier and of diffusing rapidly throughout nervous tissues. We hope that the recent identification of the neural AR as a promising drug target for remyelination strategies will spur further efforts in the field and provide the basis for new clinical trials.
In conclusion, we propose that natural or synthetic ligands of the AR offer new and promising opportunities for boosting the endogenous capacity of myelin repair in patients with demyelinating diseases. Long-term testosterone treatment has been proven safe, and outcomes of a first clinical trial in men with relapsing-remitting MS have been very encouraging. Moreover, testosterone and synthetic androgens have the advantage of easily crossing the blood–brain barrier and of diffusing rapidly throughout nervous tissues. We hope that the recent identification of the neural AR as a promising drug target for remyelination strategies will spur further efforts in the field and provide the basis for new clinical trials.
