Charles ffrench-Constant

Position:

Professor of Multiple Sclerosis Research

Telephone:

0131 651 9500

Display email:

cffc@ed.ac.uk

Biography:

• Professor of Medical Neurology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh 2007 - current.
• Director of MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine (2011 – 2015), Director of the University of Edinburgh/Multiple Sclerosis Research Centre (2007 – 2015), Co-Director of the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic (2012 – 2015), Director Edinburgh Neuroscience (2013 – 2015).
• Professor of Neurological Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge 1999 – 2007.
• University Lecturer / Consultant at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, 1996 – 1999.
• Junior Group Leader position in the Wellcome/CRC Institute, Cambridge, 1991 - 1996.
• Post-Doctoral Fellow at Wellcome/CRC Institute, Cambridge, 1989-1991.
• Post-Doctoral Fellow at MIT, Boston, 1987 – 1989. • PhD in Neuroscience from University College London, London 1986.
• MRCP in Internal Medicine from Hammersmith/University College Hospital, London 1984.
• MA in Physiology from the University of Cambridge and an MB, BChir in Medicine from Middlesex Hospital, London 1980.

Additional publications:

• Jarjour A, Zhang H, Bauer N, ffrench-Constant C and Williams A. 2012. In vitro modeling of central nervous system myelination and remyelination. Glia, 60:1–12. doi: 10.1002/glia.21231.
• Laursen LS, Chan CW, Ffrench-Constant C. 2011. Translation of myelin basic protein mRNA in oligodendrocytes is regulated by integrin activation and hnRNP-K. The Journal of Cell Biology 92(5):797-811. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201007014.
• Huang JK, Jarjour AA, Oumesmar BN, Kerninon C, Williams A, Krezel W, Kagechika H, Bauer J, Zhao C, Baron-Van Evercooren A, Chambon P, ffrench-Constant C, Franklin RJM. 2010. Retinoid X receptor gamma signaling accelerates CNS remyelination. Nature Neuroscience 14(1):45-53. doi:10.1038/nn.2702 2. Press release.
• Câmara J, Wang Z, Nunes-Fonseca C, Friedman HC, Grove M, Sherman DL, Komiyama NH, Grant SG, Brophy PJ, Peterson A, ffrench-Constant C. 2009. Integrin-mediated axoglial interactions initiate myelination in the central nervous system. Journal of Cell Biology 185(4):699-712. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200807010.

Publications

2017

Cholangiocytes act as facultative liver stem cells during impaired hepatocyte regeneration. Raven, Alexander, Lu Wei-Yu, Man Tak Yung, Ferreira-González Sofía, O'Duibhir Eoghan, Dwyer Benjamin J., Thomson John P., Meehan Richard R., Bogorad Roman, Koteliansky Victor, et al. , Nature, 2017 Jul 12, (2017)

2016

FAT1 mutations cause a glomerulotubular nephropathy. Gee, Heon Yung, Sadowski Carolin E., Aggarwal Pardeep K., Porath Jonathan D., Yakulov Toma A., Schueler Markus, Lovric Svjetlana, Ashraf Shazia, Braun Daniela A., Halbritter Jan, et al. , Nat Commun, 2016 Feb 24, Volume 7, p.10822, (2016)

Extracellular Matrix Regulation of Stem Cell Behavior. Ahmed, Maqsood, and ffrench-Constant Charles , Curr Stem Cell Rep, 2016, Volume 2, p.197-206, (2016)

VEGF preconditioning leads to stem cell remodeling and attenuates age-related decay of adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Licht, Tamar, Rothe Gadiel, Kreisel Tirzah, Wolf Brachi, Benny Ofra, Rooney Alasdair G., ffrench-Constant Charles, Enikolopov Grigori, and Keshet Eli , Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2016 Nov 29, Volume 113, Issue 48, p.E7828-E7836, (2016)

Integrin signalling regulates the expansion of neuroepithelial progenitors and neurogenesis via Wnt7a and Decorin. Long, K, Moss L, Laursen L, Boulter L, and ffrench-Constant Charles , Nat Commun, 2016, Volume 7, p.10354, (2016)

2015

Downregulation of the microtubule associated protein Tau impairs process outgrowth and myelin basic protein mRNA transport in oligodendrocytes Seiberlich, Veronika, Bauer Nina G., Schwarz Lisa, ffrench-Constant Charles, Goldbaum Olaf, and Richter-Landsberg Christiane , Glia, Jan-09-2015, Volume 63, Issue 9, p.1621 - 1635, (2015)

Vitamin D receptor-retinoid X receptor heterodimer signaling regulates oligodendrocyte progenitor cell differentiation. de la Fuente, Alerie Guzman, Errea Oihana, van Wijngaarden Peter, Gonzalez Ginez A., Kerninon Christophe, Jarjour Andrew A., Lewis Hilary J., Jones Clare A., Nait-Oumesmar Brahim, Zhao Chao, et al. , J Cell Biol, 2015 Dec 7, Volume 211, Issue 5, p.975-85, (2015)

CNS Myelin Sheath Lengths Are an Intrinsic Property of Oligodendrocytes. Bechler, Marie E., Byrne Lauren, and ffrench-Constant Charles , Curr Biol, 2015 Aug 26, (2015)

Use of induced pluripotent stem-cell technology to understand photoreceptor cytoskeletal dynamics in retinitis pigmentosa. Megaw, Roly, Mellough Carla, Wright Alan, Lako Majlinda, and ffrench-Constant Charles , Lancet, 2015 Feb 26, Volume 385 Suppl 1, p.S69, (2015)

The polarity protein scribble regulates myelination and remyelination in the central nervous system. Jarjour, Andrew A., Boyd Amanda, Dow Lukas E., Holloway Rebecca K., Goebbels Sandra, Humbert Patrick O., Williams Anna C., and ffrench-Constant Charles , PLoS Biol, 2015 Mar, Volume 13, Issue 3, p.e1002107, (2015)

Can the irradiated brain be salvaged by oligodendrocyte precursor transplantation? Harrisingh, Marie C., and ffrench-Constant Charles , Cell Stem Cell, 2015 Feb 5, Volume 16, Issue 2, p.113-4, (2015)

2014

Regulation of the neural stem cell compartment by extracellular matrix constituents. Theocharidis, Ursula, Long Katherine, ffrench-Constant Charles, and Faissner Andreas , Prog Brain Res, 2014, Volume 214, p.3-28, (2014)

Disc1 variation leads to specific alterations in adult neurogenesis. Chandran, Jayanth S., Kazanis Ilias, Clapcote Steven J., Ogawa Fumiaki, J Millar Kirsty, Porteous David J., and ffrench-Constant Charles , PLoS One, 2014, Volume 9, Issue 10, p.e108088, (2014)

Hypomyelinating leukodystrophies: Translational research progress and prospects. Pouwels, Petra J. W., Vanderver Adeline, Bernard Genevieve, Wolf Nicole I., Dreha-Kulczewksi Steffi F., Deoni Sean C. L., Bertini Enrico, Kolschütter Alfried, Richardson William, ffrench-Constant Charles, et al. , Ann Neurol, 2014 Jun 11, (2014)

Neuroscience. A new wrap for neuronal activity? Bechler, Marie E., and ffrench-Constant Charles , Science, 2014 May 2, Volume 344, Issue 6183, p.480-1, (2014)

2013

Individual oligodendrocytes have only a few hours in which to generate new myelin sheaths in vivo. Czopka, Tim, ffrench-Constant Charles, and Lyons David A. , Dev Cell, 2013 Jun 24, Volume 25, Issue 6, p.599-609, (2013)

Fibronectin aggregation in multiple sclerosis lesions impairs remyelination. Stoffels, Josephine M. J., de Jonge Jenny C., Stancic Mirjana, Nomden Anita, van Strien Miriam E., Ma Dan, Sisková Zuzana, Maier Olaf, ffrench-Constant Charles, Franklin Robin J. M., et al. , Brain, 2013 Jan, Volume 136, Issue Pt 1, p.116-31, (2013)

Identification of endothelin 2 as an inflammatory factor that promotes central nervous system remyelination. Yuen, Tracy J., Johnson Kory R., Miron Veronique E., Zhao Chao, Quandt Jacqueline, Harrisingh Marie C., Swire Matthew, Williams Anna C., McFarland Henry F., Franklin Robin J. M., et al. , Brain, 2013 Apr, Volume 136, Issue Pt 4, p.1035-47, (2013)

Unconjugated bilirubin restricts oligodendrocyte differentiation and axonal myelination. Barateiro, Andreia, Miron Veronique E., Santos Sofia D., Relvas João B., Fernandes Adelaide, ffrench-Constant Charles, and Brites Dora , Mol Neurobiol, 2013 Apr, Volume 47, Issue 2, p.632-44, (2013)

M2 microglia and macrophages drive oligodendrocyte differentiation during CNS remyelination. Miron, Veronique E., Boyd Amanda, Zhao Jing-Wei, Yuen Tracy J., Ruckh Julia M., Shadrach Jennifer L., van Wijngaarden Peter, Wagers Amy J., Williams Anna C., Franklin Robin J. M., et al. , Nat Neurosci, 2013 Sep, Volume 16, Issue 9, p.1211-8, (2013)

2012

ARF6 directs axon transport and traffic of integrins and regulates axon growth in adult DRG neurons. Eva, Richard, Crisp Sarah, Marland Jamie R. K., Norman Jim C., Kanamarlapudi Venkateswarlu, ffrench-Constant Charles, and Fawcett James W. , J Neurosci, 2012 Jul 25, Volume 32, Issue 30, p.10352-64, (2012)

Neuroprotection and repair in multiple sclerosis. Franklin, Robin J. M., ffrench-Constant Charles, Edgar Julia M., and Smith Kenneth J. , Nat Rev Neurol, 2012 Nov 5, Volume 8, Issue 11, p.624-34, (2012)

The number of stem cells in the subependymal zone of the adult rodent brain is correlated with the number of ependymal cells and not with the volume of the niche. Kazanis, Ilias, and ffrench-Constant Charles , Stem Cells Dev, 2012 May 1, Volume 21, Issue 7, p.1090-6, (2012)

In vitro modeling of central nervous system myelination and remyelination. Jarjour, Andrew A., Zhang Hui, Bauer Nina, ffrench-Constant Charles, and Williams Anna C. , Glia, 2012 Jan, Volume 60, Issue 1, p.1-12, (2012)

2011

Efficient derivation of NPCs, spinal motor neurons and midbrain dopaminergic neurons from hESCs at 3% oxygen. Stacpoole, S R. L., Bilican Bilada, Webber D J., Luzhynskaya A, He X L., Compston A, Karadottir R, ffrench-Constant Charles, and Chandran S , Nat Protoc, 2011 Aug, Volume 6, Issue 8, p.1229-40, (2011)

Myelin regeneration in multiple sclerosis: targeting endogenous stem cells. Huang, Jeffrey K., Fancy Stephen P. J., Zhao Chao, Rowitch David H., ffrench-Constant Charles, and Franklin Robin J. M. , Neurotherapeutics, 2011 Oct, Volume 8, Issue 4, p.650-8, (2011)

The extracellular matrix molecule tenascin C modulates expression levels and territories of key patterning genes during spinal cord astrocyte specification. Karus, Michael, Denecke Bernd, ffrench-Constant Charles, Wiese Stefan, and Faissner Andreas , Development, 2011 Dec, Volume 138, Issue 24, p.5321-31, (2011)

Individual axons regulate the myelinating potential of single oligodendrocytes in vivo. Almeida, Rafael G., Czopka Tim, ffrench-Constant Charles, and Lyons David A. , Development, 2011 Oct, Volume 138, Issue 20, p.4443-50, (2011)

Extracellular matrix and the neural stem cell niche. Kazanis, Ilias, and ffrench-Constant Charles , Dev Neurobiol, 2011 Nov, Volume 71, Issue 11, p.1006-17, (2011)

Association of white matter integrity with genetic variation in an exonic DISC1 SNP. Sprooten, E, Sussmann J E., Moorhead T W., Whalley H C., ffrench-Constant Charles, Blumberg H P., Bastin M E., Hall J, Lawrie S M., and McIntosh A M. , Mol Psychiatry, 2011 Jul, Volume 16, Issue 7, p.685, 688-9, (2011)

Retinoid X receptors as a potential avenue for regenerative medicine in multiple sclerosis. Huang, Jeffrey K., Jarjour Andrew A., ffrench-Constant Charles, and Franklin Robin J. M. , Expert Rev Neurother, 2011 Apr, Volume 11, Issue 4, p.467-8, (2011)

Integrin activation promotes axon growth on inhibitory chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans by enhancing integrin signaling. Tan, Chin Lik, Kwok Jessica C. F., Patani Rickie, ffrench-Constant Charles, Chandran S, and Fawcett James W. , J Neurosci, 2011 Apr 27, Volume 31, Issue 17, p.6289-95, (2011)

Retinoid X receptor gamma signaling accelerates CNS remyelination. Huang, Jeffrey K., Jarjour Andrew A., Oumesmar Brahim Nait, Kerninon Christophe, Williams Anna C., Krezel Wojciech, Kagechika Hiroyuki, Bauer Julien, Zhao Chao, Van Evercooren Anne Baron-, et al. , Nat Neurosci, 2011 Jan, Volume 14, Issue 1, p.45-53, (2011)

Translation of myelin basic protein mRNA in oligodendrocytes is regulated by integrin activation and hnRNP-K. Laursen, Lisbeth S., Chan Colin W., and ffrench-Constant Charles , J Cell Biol, 2011 Mar 7, Volume 192, Issue 5, p.797-811, (2011)

2010

Quiescence and activation of stem and precursor cell populations in the subependymal zone of the mammalian brain are associated with distinct cellular and extracellular matrix signals. Kazanis, Ilias, Lathia Justin D., Vadakkan Tegy J., Raborn Eric, Wan Ruiqian, Mughal Mohamed R., D Eckley Mark, Sasaki Takako, Patton Bruce, Mattson Mark P., et al. , J Neurosci, 2010 Jul 21, Volume 30, Issue 29, p.9771-81, (2010)

Improving the translational hit of experimental treatments in multiple sclerosis. Vesterinen, Hanna M., Sena Emily S., ffrench-Constant Charles, Williams Anna C., Chandran S, and Macleod Malcolm R. , Mult Scler, 2010 Sep, Volume 16, Issue 9, p.1044-55, (2010)

Rab11 and its effector Rab coupling protein contribute to the trafficking of beta 1 integrins during axon growth in adult dorsal root ganglion neurons and PC12 cells. Eva, Richard, Dassie Elisa, Caswell Patrick T., Dick Gunnar, ffrench-Constant Charles, Norman Jim C., and Fawcett James W. , J Neurosci, 2010 Sep 1, Volume 30, Issue 35, p.11654-69, (2010)

Regulatory mechanisms that mediate tenascin C-dependent inhibition of oligodendrocyte precursor differentiation. Czopka, Tim, Von Holst Alexander, ffrench-Constant Charles, and Faissner Andreas , J Neurosci, 2010 Sep 15, Volume 30, Issue 37, p.12310-22, (2010)

Stem cell treatments and multiple sclerosis. Franklin, Robin J. M., and ffrench-Constant Charles , BMJ, 2010, Volume 340, p.c1387, (2010)

Adhesion molecules in the stem cell niche--more than just staying in shape? Marthiens, Véronique, Kazanis Ilias, Moss Lara, Long Katherine, and ffrench-Constant Charles , J Cell Sci, 2010 May 15, Volume 123, Issue Pt 10, p.1613-22, (2010)

Integrin activation or alpha 9 expression allows retinal pigmented epithelial cell adhesion on Bruch's membrane in wet age-related macular degeneration. Afshari, Fardad T., Kwok Jessica C., Andrews Melissa R., Blits Bas, Martin Keith R., Faissner Andreas, ffrench-Constant Charles, and Fawcett James W. , Brain, 2010 Feb, Volume 133, Issue Pt 2, p.448-64, (2010)

2009

Physical forces in myelination and repair: a question of balance? Bauer, Nina G., and ffrench-Constant Charles , J Biol, 2009, Volume 8, Issue 8, p.78, (2009)

An integrin-contactin complex regulates CNS myelination by differential Fyn phosphorylation. Laursen, Lisbeth S., Chan Colin W., and ffrench-Constant Charles , J Neurosci, 2009 Jul 22, Volume 29, Issue 29, p.9174-85, (2009)

beta1 integrin maintains integrity of the embryonic neocortical stem cell niche. Loulier, Karine, Lathia Justin D., Marthiens Véronique, Relucio Jenne, Mughal Mohamed R., Tang Sung-Chun, Coksaygan Turhan, Hall Peter E., Chigurupati Srinivasulu, Patton Bruce, et al. , PLoS Biol, 2009 Aug, Volume 7, Issue 8, p.e1000176, (2009)

Up-regulation of oligodendrocyte precursor cell alphaV integrin and its extracellular ligands during central nervous system remyelination. Zhao, Chao, Fancy Stephen P. J., Franklin Robin J. M., and ffrench-Constant Charles , J Neurosci Res, 2009 Nov 15, Volume 87, Issue 15, p.3447-55, (2009)

Myelin-mediated inhibition of oligodendrocyte precursor differentiation can be overcome by pharmacological modulation of Fyn-RhoA and protein kinase C signalling. Baer, Alexandra S., Syed Yasir A., Kang Sung Ung, Mitteregger Dieter, Vig Raluca, ffrench-Constant Charles, Franklin Robin J. M., Altmann Friedrich, Lubec Gert, and Kotter Mark R. , Brain, 2009 Feb, Volume 132, Issue Pt 2, p.465-81, (2009)

Adherens junction domains are split by asymmetric division of embryonic neural stem cells. Marthiens, Véronique, and ffrench-Constant Charles , EMBO Rep, 2009 May, Volume 10, Issue 5, p.515-20, (2009)

Integrin-mediated axoglial interactions initiate myelination in the central nervous system. Câmara, Joana, Wang Zhen, Nunes-Fonseca Cristina, Friedman Hana C., Grove Matthew, Sherman Diane L., Komiyama Noboru H., Grant S G., Brophy Peter J., Peterson Alan, et al. , J Cell Biol, 2009 May 18, Volume 185, Issue 4, p.699-712, (2009)

Role of the oligodendroglial cytoskeleton in differentiation and myelination. Bauer, Nina G., Richter-Landsberg Christiane, and ffrench-Constant Charles , Glia, 2009 Dec, Volume 57, Issue 16, p.1691-705, (2009)

Tenascin C and tenascin R similarly prevent the formation of myelin membranes in a RhoA-dependent manner, but antagonistically regulate the expression of myelin basic protein via a separate pathway. Czopka, Tim, Von Holst Alexander, Schmidt Gudula, ffrench-Constant Charles, and Faissner Andreas , Glia, 2009 Dec, Volume 57, Issue 16, p.1790-801, (2009)

2008

Abnormally phosphorylated tau is associated with neuronal and axonal loss in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis. Anderson, J M., Hampton David W., Patani Rickie, Pryce G, Crowther R A., Reynolds R, ffrench-Constant Charles, Giovannoni G, Compston D A. S., Baker D, et al. , Brain, 2008 Jul, Volume 131, Issue Pt 7, p.1736-48, (2008)

Robust, persistent transgene expression in human embryonic stem cells is achieved with AAVS1-targeted integration. Smith, Joseph R., Maguire Sean, Davis Lesley A., Alexander Morgan, Yang Fentang, Chandran S, ffrench-Constant Charles, and Pedersen Roger A. , Stem Cells, 2008 Feb, Volume 26, Issue 2, p.496-504, (2008)

Osteopontin is extensively expressed by macrophages following CNS demyelination but has a redundant role in remyelination. Zhao, Chao, Fancy Stephen P. J., ffrench-Constant Charles, and Franklin Robin J. M. , Neurobiol Dis, 2008 Aug, Volume 31, Issue 2, p.209-17, (2008)

Laminin enhances the growth of human neural stem cells in defined culture media. Hall, Peter E., Lathia Justin D., Caldwell Maeve A., and ffrench-Constant Charles , BMC Neurosci, 2008, Volume 9, p.71, (2008)

Remyelination in the CNS: from biology to therapy. Franklin, Robin J. M., and ffrench-Constant Charles , Nat Rev Neurosci, 2008 Nov, Volume 9, Issue 11, p.839-55, (2008)

2007

Adhesion molecules in the regulation of CNS myelination. Laursen, Lisbeth S., and ffrench-Constant Charles , Neuron Glia Biol, 2007 Nov, Volume 3, Issue 4, p.367-75, (2007)

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