A comparative transcriptomic analysis of mouse demyelination models and multiple sclerosis lesions.

Abstract

Demyelinating diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), are characterized by loss of myelin and progressive neurodegeneration. It remains unclear if demyelination mouse models, such as cuprizone (CPZ) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) elicit distinct responses or are comparable to human disease. Here, we integrate new and published single-cell transcriptomic datasets from CPZ- and LPC-induced demyelination and compare them with human MS data. We find that CPZ induces a distinct, stressed oligodendrocyte (OL) state, marked by Cdkn1a and Nupr1, that resembles phenotypes in MS lesions. The models converge on an immune responsive OL state expressing Socs3, B2m, and interferon-response genes during remyelination. Mouse microglia share a conserved activation program, although LPC drives a stronger, prolonged response. However, neither model captures the oligodendrocyte progenitor and microglial heterogeneity observed in MS. These results provide a cross-model, cross-species atlas of glial states and offer a framework to strategically leverage mouse models to study myelin injury and repair.