Congratulations to Quentin BRASSART on the acceptance of his thesis!

Research Summary
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that causes the destruction of myelin sheaths. Remyelination, which is essential for myelin regeneration, often fails, leading to neurodegeneration and various neurological symptoms. Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) must differentiate into oligodendrocytes (OLs) to produce myelin. Retinoid X Receptor gamma (RXRg) promotes this process, but its mechanism remains unclear.

Using primary cultures of murine OPCs, I demonstrated that RXRg represses the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway to enable OPC differentiation. Through the use of novel mouse models under physiological and pathological conditions, combined with lineage-tracing analyses and single-nucleus sequencing, I showed that RXRg plays a role both during aging and under demyelinating conditions. Its absence disrupts oligodendrocyte homeostasis and leads to SHH accumulation in OLs. These results describe the role of RXRg during OPC differentiation.
 

Skills acquired at IGBMC
During these years, I learned how to perform primary cell cultures and to apply the meticulous in vitro techniques required. I also gained significant experience in managing mouse models and handling biological material. Additionally, I began to develop skills in bioinformatics.
 

Life at IGBMC
What I particularly appreciated at IGBMC was the diversity of research topics and the wide range of technical expertise.
 

Collaboration
I collaborated with internal platforms such as GenomEast and the microscopy facility.
 

Funding and partners
I received the MRT fellowship for the first three years of my PhD, and the association FranceSEP supported my fourth year as well as the project I worked on.
 

Future projects
I plan to begin with training in entrepreneurship, and after that, I will see where the future leads me.