Adam R

Multiple sclerosis is a disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) in which autoreactive immune cells migrate through a damaged blood brain barrier, resulting in focal demyelinating lesions. Beyond focal lesions, there are also diffuse surface-in gradients of pathology in MS, wherein damage is most severe directly adjacent to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-contacting surfaces, such as the subpial and periventricular areas.

1. Introduction Modern cellular neuroscience has turned the spotlight on glial cells, and delineated their varied and critical roles in brain function and disease (Duncan et al., 2022). Yet, one glial cell, called the ependymal cell, has yet to be investigated to nearly the same extent as its other glial counterparts. Ependymal cells make up the ependyma, which is a ciliated epithelial barrier that separates the cavities of the brain and spinal cord from the parenchyma.

Human brain samples Post-surgery human brain tissues were obtained from the Department of Neuropathology at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (MNI) and the Montreal Children’s Hospital with written consent from families. Use of adult tissues were approved by the MNI Neurosciences Research Ethics Board (Protocol ANTJ 1988/3) whereas use of pediatric tissues was approved by the Montreal Children’s Hospital Research Ethics Board.