# Muscle building supplement HMB for remyelination

> **NIH NIH R01** · RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $392,500

## Abstract

Pathologically, multiple sclerosis (MS) can be identified by the presence of diffuse, discrete demyelinated areas, called plaques. Demyelination is a major feature of MS and therefore, an approach to the management of MS involves an increase in remyelination of axons, resulting in clinical improvement. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β or δ (PPARβ) being highly expressed in the CNS participates in many brain functions including myelination. Being a nuclear hormone receptor, PPARβ needs ligand(s) for its activation and nuclear translocation. Therefore, identification of new nontoxic ligand of PPARβ would be very important for promoting remyelination. The β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB) is available in local GNC stores as a muscle-building supplement in human. It is a physiological molecule that is produced in human through the metabolism of L-leucine. HMB is known to increase exercise-induced gains in muscle size and muscle strength and improve exercise performance. Here, we will test an exciting hypothesis that HMB binds to the ligand-binding domain of PPARβ (Specific aim I) and that HMB and its precursor L-leucine promote maturation of OPCs (Specific aim II) and stimulate remyelination in animal models (cuprizone and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis or EAE) of CNS demyelination (Specific aim III) via OPC-specific and/or microglia-specific PPARβ. To investigate whether the muscle building effects of L-leucine and HMB could contribute to improved motor function in cuprizone and EAE models, Specific aim III will also examine the role of skeletal muscle-specific PPARβ. A positive outcome of this cutting-edge R01 proposal will delineate easily available muscle-building supplement HMB as a physiological ligand of PPARβ and enhance the possibility of promoting remyelination and treating patients with MS and other demyelinating disorders with HMB and its precursor L-leucine as primary or adjunct therapy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9988026
- **Project number:** 1R01AT010980-01
- **Recipient organization:** RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** KALIPADA PAHAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $392,500
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9988026

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9988026, Muscle building supplement HMB for remyelination (1R01AT010980-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9988026. Licensed CC0.

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