Therapeutics: κ opioid receptor (KOR; OPRK1)

Cell culture and mouse studies suggest KOR agonists could help treat MS. In co-cultures of neurons and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), a KOR agonist tool compound increased differentiation of OPCs into mature oligodendrocytes and subsequent myelination of neuronal axons compared with vehicle. In a mouse model of lysolecithin-induced MS, the agonist increased OPC differentiation and neuronal remyelination compared with vehicle. Next steps could include testing KOR agonists in additional models of MS...