Home › Research › TREM2 and immune genetics
Oxidized phosphatidylcholines found in multiple sclerosis lesions mediate neurodegeneration and are neutralized by microglia
Dong Y, D'Mello C, Pinsky W, Lozinski BM, Kaushik DK, Ghorbani S, Moezzi D, Brown D et al.. Nature neuroscience, 2021-02-18
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Neurodegeneration occurring in multiple sclerosis (MS) contributes to the progression of disability. It is therefore important to identify and neutralize the mechanisms that promote neurodegeneration in MS. Here, we report that oxidized phosphatidylcholines (OxPCs) found in MS lesions, previously identified as end-product markers of oxidative stress, are potent drivers of neurodegeneration.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Dong, Y., D'Mello, C., Pinsky, W., Lozinski, B. M., Kaushik, D. K., Ghorbani, S., et al. (2021). Oxidized phosphatidylcholines found in multiple sclerosis lesions mediate neurodegeneration and are neutralized by microglia. Nature neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-021-00801-z
Vancouver
Dong Y, D'Mello C, Pinsky W, Lozinski BM, Kaushik DK, Ghorbani S, et al. Oxidized phosphatidylcholines found in multiple sclerosis lesions mediate neurodegeneration and are neutralized by microglia. Nature neuroscience. 2021. doi:10.1038/s41593-021-00801-z. PMID: 33603230.
BibTeX
@article{dong2021-33603230,
author = {Dong, Y. and D'Mello, C. and Pinsky, W. and Lozinski, B. M. and Kaushik, D. K. and Ghorbani, S. and Moezzi, D. and Brown, D. and others},
title = {{Oxidized phosphatidylcholines found in multiple sclerosis lesions mediate neurodegeneration and are neutralized by microglia}},
journal = {Nature neuroscience},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.1038/s41593-021-00801-z},
pmid = {33603230},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-021-00801-z}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- It is therefore important to identify and neutralize the mechanisms that promote neurodegeneration in MS.
- Here, we report that oxidized phosphatidylcholines (OxPCs) found in MS lesions, previously identified as end-product markers of oxidative stress, are potent drivers of neurodegeneration.
- Cultured neurons and oligodendrocytes were killed by OxPCs, and this was ameliorated by microglia.
- After OxPC injection, mouse spinal cords developed focal demyelinating lesions with prominent axonal loss.
Why it matters
This study found that oxidized phosphatidylcholines in multiple sclerosis lesions drive neurodegeneration, which was ameliorated by microglia in cultured cells and after injection into mouse spinal cords. It concerns multiple sclerosis, not Alzheimer's disease, and reports no Alzheimer's treatment, cure or prevention.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Genetics →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 54/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Nature neuroscience) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Nature Neuroscience: journal h-index 593 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2021 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 179 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 25.6 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 18.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 5 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 92 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Voon Wee Yong: h-index 114 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Calgary: institution h-index 1,028 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33603230) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 54 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
Later studies that cite this one
5 studies in the alzhub library list this one in their references.
Related studies in TREM2 and immune genetics
Also tagged “mice”
1,150 studies in the library carry the topic tag “mice”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 1,150 tagged studies.