Jürgen Winkler

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare and rapidly progressive atypical parkinsonian disorder characterized by oligodendroglial cytoplasmic inclusions containing α‐synuclein (α‐syn), demyelination, inflammation and neuronal loss. To date, no disease‐modifying therapy is available. Targeting α‐syn‐driven oligodendroglial dysfunction and demyelination presents a potential therapeutic approach for restricting axonal dysfunction, neuronal loss and disease progression. The present study investigated the promyelinogenic potential of sobetirome, a blood–brain barrier permeable and central nervous system selective thyromimetic in the context of an in vitro MSA model. Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) were obtained from transgenic mice overexpressing human α‐syn specifically in oligodendrocytes (MBP29 mouse line), a well‐described MSA model, and non‐transgenic littermates. mRNA and protein expression analyses revealed a substantial rescue effect of sobetirome on myelin‐specific proteins in control and α‐syn overexpressing oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, myelination analysis using nanofibres confirmed that sobetirome increases both the length and number of myelinated segments per oligodendrocyte in primary murine α‐syn overexpressing oligodendrocytes and their respective control. These results suggest that sobetirome may be a promising thyromimetic compound targeting an important neuropathological hallmark of MSA.