The absence of mature oligodendrocytes for the repair of demyelination lesions is a critical factor in the pathology of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and other debilitating CNS disorders of myelination. As such, regulating the maturation of oligodendrocytes and the resulting myelin production is an interesting target for potential new therapeutics.

GPR17 is an orphan G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is abundant in the CNS, and has been shown to play a key role in regulating oligodendrocyte differentiation and maturation. Unfortunately, little has been known about the exact mechanism through which GPR17 influences myelination.

If you work in Biology, you’ve most certainly heard of HeLa cells, as they have been around for over 60 years and are some of the most extensively used cell lines in Biomedical research. But where did these cell lines come from?

Focus Biomolecules produces a broad range of bioactive lipid mediators as well as many small molecule inhibitors of numerous lipid metabolic pathways for use as cellular probes.  These can be supplied as individual products or in a library format (Focus Biomolecules products are available through tebu-bio in Europe). Pathways include Anandamide, Lipo-amino acid, Prostaglandin, Leukotriene, Sphingolipid, Fatty Acid, Cholesterol and more.

In the field of Drug Development, 3D cell culture models such as spheroids or organoids currently appear as one of the best solutions to obtain accurate and physiological in vitro data, closest to what occurs in the human body. These models are the perfect intermediary between “less realistic” classical in vitro static screening well plates, and animal models which, although more relevant, are much more complicated to set up, and are time consuming.