multiple sclerosis tagged posts

PA Ameliorates CNS Autoimmunity via Induction of Treg Cells in the Small Intestine

Adjusting length of fatty acids consumed by mice altered the function of T helper cells in the gut – either intensifying or alleviating symptoms in an animal model of the autoimmune disease (i.e., multiple sclerosis).

A team compared in mice the effects of short-chain fatty acids, which are solely metabolized by gut bacteria and are typically found in fiber-rich diets, with the effects of long-chain fatty acids, the most abundant component of western diets. They found that long-chain fatty acids, such as lauric acid and palmitic acid, promoted the development and release of proinflammatory T cells from the intestinal wall to other areas in the body, including the brain...

Phase III clinical trials has been released for its multiple scleroses drug ocrelizumab, for use in relapsing forms of the disease or in cases of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS)—and the results appear to be very promising.

Ocrelizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody against immune B cells that express CD20 proteins at their surface. These cells are thought to be a key contributor to the myelin and neuron damage that leads to motor function impairment, irreversible neurological disability and paralysis in MS patients. “B cells can contribute to the pathophysiology of MS,” explained Dr. Hauser during his presentation, “targeting CD20-B cells may preserve B cell reconstitution and long-term immune memory.”

85% of patients with MS experience relapse, wit...

Proliferation of NSCs and expression of Shh in Gli1-null mice.

An experimental drug GANT61 originally identified in a National Cancer Institute library of chemical compounds as a potential therapy for brain and basal cell cancers improves the symptoms of mice with a form of the debilitating neurological disorder multiple sclerosis (MS), according to new research.

It blocks the action of a key protein, Gli1, which is involved in so-called sonic hedgehog signaling, a biological pathway closely tied to neural stem cell development and the growth of some cancers, and whose signaling is raised in tissue samples taken from brain lesions in patients with MS.

In the study, mice with chemically damaged brain myelin were given daily doses of GANT61 for one month...

Highlights •Melatonin levels negatively correlate with multiple sclerosis relapses in humans •Melatonin treatment ameliorates pathology in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis •Melatonin blocks ROR-γt expression and Th17 differentiation •Melatonin boosts Tr1 development via Erk1/2 and ROR-α

Researchers have found an explanation that could lead to a deeper understanding of multiple sclerosis and more targeted treatment options for patients. By first looking broadly at possible environmental factors and then deeply at preclinical models of MS, the research team found that melatonin – a hormone involved in regulating a person’s sleep-wake cycle – may influence MS disease activity.

Why do symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) seem to get better in the winter and worse in the summer? The...