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    multiple sclerosis tagged posts

    Hidden Herpes Virus may play key role in MS, other Brain Disorders

    July 10, 2017, Categories  Biology/Biotechnology, Health/Medical

    Herpes virus

    Expression of the Human Herpesvirus 6A Latency-Associated Transcript U94A Disrupts Human Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Migration. Scientific Reports, 2017; 7 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-04432-y

    The ubiquitous human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) may play a critical role in impeding the brain’s ability to repair itself in diseases like multiple sclerosis. It may help explain the differences in severity in symptoms that many people with the disease experience. “While latent HHV-6 – which can be found in cells throughout the brain – has been associated with demyelinating disorders like multiple sclerosis it has not been clear what role, if any, it plays in these diseases,” said Margot Mayer-Proschel, Ph.D...

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    Missing Link in Epigenetics could explain Conundrum of Disease Inheritance

    July 8, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Simvastatin acts as a stopper, plugging the adhesion molecules in the immune system.

    Simvastatin acts as a stopper, plugging the adhesion molecules in the immune system.

    Simvastatin, which is one of the most commonly used pharmaceuticals in the world, also has a beneficial effect on the immune defense system with regard to diseases such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Danish researchers have now explored why this is so, and their findings may result in improved treatment.

    In the case of multiple sclerosis, the immune defense system destroys the central nervous system, while the inflammation affects the kidneys, eyes and sense of touch in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, leading to a variety of complications...

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    Exploring the Gut-Brain Connection for Insights into Multiple Sclerosis

    May 9, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Immunofluorescence imaging of human brain tissue generated from an active lesion from an individual with multiple sclerosis shows astrocytes (blue), the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (red) and the phosphorylated Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (green). Credit: Image courtesy of Jorge Ivan Alvarez, Assistant Professor at the Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

    Immunofluorescence imaging of human brain tissue generated from an active lesion from an individual with multiple sclerosis shows astrocytes (blue), the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (red) and the phosphorylated Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (green). Credit: Image courtesy of Jorge Ivan Alvarez, Assistant Professor at the Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

    Bacteria living in the gut may remotely influence the activity of cells in the brain that are involved in controlling inflammation and neurodegeneration...

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    Multiple Sclerosis: Plant Peptide could Prevent Onset of the disease

    March 29, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Synthesis of cyclotides. Cyclotides were assembled as linear precursors using FMOC chemistry, and cyclized using native chemical ligation. (1) Dawson’s resin containing di-Fmoc-3,4-diaminobenzoic acid (Dbz) as linker is the starting point. (2) Couplings are performed using microwave-assisted FMOC synthesis (asterisk marks the first amino acid; the last amino acid is a BOC-protected cysteine). (3) Acylation and activation of the resin bound Dbz-precursor to yield the N-acylurea peptide (Nbz-peptide). (4) Full deprotection and resin cleavage of the Nbz-peptide in one step (Ar, Aryl). Peptide cyclization (5a) via thioesterification, (5b) S, N-intramolecular acyl shift and native chemical ligation and (5c) oxidative folding to yield cyclotides with the native fold. Ribbon representation of a cyclotide (kalata B1, PDB ID code 1NB1) and sequence of [T20K]kalata B1 are shown. Cysteines, disulfide bonds (yellow), and intercysteine loops are indicated.

    Synthesis of cyclotides. Cyclotides were assembled as linear precursors using FMOC chemistry, and cyclized using native chemical ligation. (1) Dawson’s resin containing di-Fmoc-3,4-diaminobenzoic acid (Dbz) as linker is the starting point. (2) Couplings are performed using microwave-assisted FMOC synthesis (asterisk marks the first amino acid; the last amino acid is a BOC-protected cysteine). (3) Acylation and activation of the resin bound Dbz-precursor to yield the N-acylurea peptide (Nbz-peptide). (4) Full deprotection and resin cleavage of the Nbz-peptide in one step (Ar, Aryl). Peptide cyclization (5a) via thioesterification, (5b) S, N-intramolecular acyl shift and native chemical ligation and (5c) oxidative folding to yield cyclotides with the native fold...

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