Science in 60—Xochitl Luna
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative condition that starts as a misdirected immune attack on the myelin sheath, a protective layer of fat and protein that insulates nerve fibers extending from the body of a neuron. As this protective wrapping deteriorates—a process known as demyelination—the nerve fibers begin to fray. This disrupts communication between neurons and hallmark symptoms of MS, such as challenges with cognitive, sensory, and motor function begin to emerge.
Xochitl Luna, a graduate student in Whitehead Institute Member Olivia Corradin’s lab, is investigating the role of microglia—the brain’s resident immune cells—in driving this process. Understanding how microglia contribute to MS could pave the way for treatments that alter the course of the disease.
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