March 24, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS STAT5 Protein Complex Implicated in MS Autoimmunity in Mice A four-protein complex, or tetramer, of the protein STAT5 is involved in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS)-like autoimmune disease in mice, a new study shows. The findings point to this protein complex and its signaling pathway as a potential treatment in MS and other autoimmune conditions, scientists noted.
February 3, 2022 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD KAT7 Enzyme Spotted as Key to Training Immune System’s T-cells KAT7, an enzyme known to regulate gene activity, is essential for the process of teaching immune T-cells to correctly identify the bodyās molecules and cells as āselfā ā a process that goes awry in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases. This enzyme is also critical for training T-cells…
January 5, 2022 News by Yedida Y Bogachkov PhD Study Finds Lemtrada Safe for MS Patients With Other Autoimmunity Other autoimmune conditions, particularly those characterized by the presence of anti-TPO antibodies, should not preclude patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) from receiving treatment with Lemtrada (alemtuzumab), according to an analysis of pooled data from clinical trials and post-market data. The study, āAutoimmunity and long-term safety and efficacy…
June 17, 2021 News by Somi Igbene, PhD MS Does Not Raise Woman’s Risk of Child With Brain Disorder, Study Suggests Children born to women with multiple sclerosis (MS) are not at a higher risk of brain disorders than are children whose mothers don’t have this disease, an observational study reported. However, children born to women with a family with a history of other autoimmune conditions and brain disorders, or…
March 2, 2020 News by Ana Pena PhD #ACTRIMS2020 – Protein May Drive Process Causing T-cells to Attack Myelin A protein called dedicator of cytokinesis 8 (DOCK8) is key for the development and expansion of self-reactive immune T-cells that wrongly attack myelin, a study in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS) found. DOCK8 drives the migration and stimulating capacity of dendritic cells ā immune cells that ‘teach’…
February 4, 2020 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Cerebrospinal Fluid of MS Patients More Diverse and Filled with Pro-Inflammatory Cells, Study Shows People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a more diverse set of immune cells in their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the fluid that bathes the central nervous system, but no such diversity is seen in their blood, a study reports. Instead, MS causes changes in the activation of immune cells in…
November 25, 2019 by Ana Pena PhD Protein That Helps Cells Break Down Sugar Also Promotes Inflammation, Study Suggests A protein involved in cell metabolism, called PKM2, was found to be central to switching ‘on’ immune cells that play critical roles in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), an early study reports. Blocking the activity of PKM2 (pyruvate kinase M2) eased MS-like symptoms…
May 23, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD Stress-induced Changes in Gut Bacteria May Increase Risk of Autoimmune Disorders, Mouse Study Suggests Stress-induced changes in gut bacteria, or gut microbiota, may play a significant part in the possible link between exposure to stress and the risk of autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS), a mouse research study says. In the study ā…
April 26, 2019 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Active Form of Vitamin D Can Regulate Immune Responses in Diseases, Including MS, Study Shows An active form of vitamin D can modulate the activity of immune cells and prevent autoimmune reactions known to be involved in several human diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). A study with that finding, led by researchers from The University of EdinburghĀ in Scotland, reveals a new layer…
March 14, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Fatty Acid Pentanoate May Be Effective Treatment for MS, Other Autoimmune Diseases, Mouse Study Suggests Increased production of an anti-inflammatory molecule called interleukin (IL)-10, and suppression of a subtype of immune T-cells, may mean that a fatty acid called pentanoate is effective against inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), according to new research in mice. The study, āThe…
February 15, 2019 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD Tiny RNA miR-142 Key in Preventing Autoimmunity, Study Reports A tiny molecule known as microRNA-142 plays a key role in the prevention of autoimmune responses through immune cells called regulatory T-cells (Tregs), according to a new study of Ā mice. These findings could enable new strategies to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases, the scientists said. The…
February 13, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein Early-life Antibiotic Use Disrupts Gut Microbiota and Immune System, MS Rat Study Finds Early-life use of antibiotics disrupts gut microbiota in a rat model of multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) and provokes nervous system autoimmunity, ultimately aggravating disease severity, new research shows. Results also indicate early-life antibiotic use may have unfavorable consequences on regulation of the immune system. The research article, ā…
October 19, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Enzyme Produced by Gut Bacteria Linked to T-cell Attacks on Myelin in Study An enzyme produced by bacteria in the gut was seen to activate immune cells linked to the development and progression ofĀ multiple sclerosis, a finding that mayĀ pave the way for a vaccine that might alter autoimmune mechanisms involved in MS. The study, ā…
December 26, 2017 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Lifetime Cancer Risk Lower in MS Patients Than General Public, Study Reports People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a lower overall lifetime risk of cancer relative to a general population matched by area, age, sex and habits like tobacco use and alcohol consumption, new research reports, suggesting this lesser risk might be due to the nature of MS itself or to disease…
October 19, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Inhibiting HDAC1 Enzyme Prevents Mice from Developing MS-like Disease, Study Finds Inhibiting an enzyme prevented mice from developing aĀ multiple sclerosis-like disease, a European study reports. The finding about HDAC1, aĀ member of the histone deacetylases family of enzymes, could open up new therapy possibilities for MS. Researchers published their study, āA T cell-specific deletion of HDAC1 protects against experimental…
October 10, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Nimbus, Celgene to Jointly Research Targeting of Proteins to Treat MS, Other Disorders Nimbus Therapeutics and CelgeneĀ have agreed to work together to identify potential therapeutic compounds that can specifically target Tyk2 and STING ā two proteins involved in inflammation and innate immune response. This strategic collaboration can open new therapeutic avenues for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and several autoimmune disorders. Nimbus, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, applies chemical computational analysis to identify and develop new compounds with potential for therapeutic use in a range of diseases. TwoĀ Nimbus immunology programs are already covered under the newly established agreement: one developing inhibitors of Tyk2 and antagonists of STING protein. Tyk2, or tyrosine kinase 2, mediates the signaling of several pro-inflammatory proteins, including interleukin (IL)-23, IL-12 and type-I interferons. Inhibiting this enzyme can stop signals from passing through. This can potentially impair inflammatory response. STING, or stimulator of interferon genes, is an important activator of immune responses. As such, finding ways to block its activity can help prevent autoimmunity and reestablish immune response balance. Under their accord, Nimbus will control the program's research and development; Celgene will have the option to acquire each program covered by the alliance.
August 22, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Autoimmunity Traced to Failure of B-cell Protein, Caveolin-1, to Work as Intended in Study A newĀ and potentially important mechanism in the development ofĀ autoimmune diseases likeĀ multiple sclerosis was discovered by scientists at the University of Freiburg, Germany. They identify aĀ protein, called Caveolin-1, that is essential to immune cells called B-cells working as intended to protect a person from pathogens or ā in its absence…
May 15, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Transcription Factor T-Bet Triggers MS, Other Autoimmune Diseases, Study Finds The expression by immune B-cells of a protein called T-bet is crucialĀ to promoting production of autoantibodies that recognize and destroy the tissues of one’s own body, finds a new study by researchersĀ at National Jewish HealthĀ in Denver. The study, āB cells expressing the transcription factor T-bet drive lupus-like autoimmunity,ā…
January 13, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Trio Wins Crafoord Science Award for Discovery of Regulatory T-cells’ Role in Autoimmunity Three researchers who discovered regulatory T-cells and their role in autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), have been awarded the Crafoord PrizeĀ by The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The scientists āĀ Shimon Sakaguchi, Fred Ramsdell, and Alexander Rudensky ā are credited with advancing understanding of how the body…
December 6, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Study Detailing New Way T-cells Attack Myelin May Explain Why Some MS Therapies Fail In a new and possibly important insight into the workings of the immune system, researchers discovered what it takes for T-cells to start targeting myelin sheets in multiple sclerosis (MS). The findings may also explain why some drugs fail to prevent autoimmunity in MS. The study, āTrans-presentation…
October 24, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD ‘Rare’ Molecule in Immune System Turns Out to Be Common, and May Be Part of What Goes Wrong in MS Researchers have discovered that a type of immune molecule ā called “spliced epitopes,” once believed to be very rare Ā ā in fact makes up a large part of the molecules labeling cells as belonging to the body, and those that are invaders. The finding may wellĀ change our understanding of multiple…
July 15, 2016 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD Gut Microbiome in MS Patients Seen to Favor Inflammatory Bacteria in Study A link indeed appears to exist between multiple sclerosis (MS) and unusual changes in theĀ bacterial composition ofĀ the gut, according to researchers atĀ Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH). In their study, “Alterations of the human gut microbiome in multiple sclerosis,” published in the journalĀ Nature Communications,…
January 25, 2016 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc Mode of Action for MS Drug Showing Promise in Phase 3 Clinical Trials Uncovered In a new study, researchers at theĀ Scripps Research Institute (TSRI)Ā uncovered the molecular mechanisms behind the perceived clinicalĀ efficacyĀ of a specific drug type, sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) agonists, toĀ diminish the harmful immune response that leads to autoimmunity in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other diseases, while still preserving the immune system’s…
November 24, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Patients on Salt-heavy Diets Risk Inflammation Findings from two studies, recently published in theĀ Journal of Clinical Investigation, indicate that high levels of salt alter the stability of the immune system and make it more susceptible to inflammation. The studies, which were led by Dr. David Hafler from Yale University and Dr. Dominik…
October 14, 2015 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc Study Identifies Blood Coagulation Protein Fibrinogen as Cause of Brain Autoimmunity Researchers from the Gladstone Institutes have shown in a new study that fibrinogen, an important blood coagulation protein, can induce an autoimmune response in the central nervous system when the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is disrupted and blood proteins enter the brain. The study, entitled āBlood coagulation protein fibrinogen promotes…
February 25, 2015 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Likelihood of MS, Other Autoimmune Disorders in Women Increased By Mercury in Seafood According to Study A new study entitled āMercury Exposure and Antinuclear Antibodies among Females of Reproductive Age in the United Statesā suggests mercury exposure by seafood may increase the risk ofĀ developingĀ autoimmune diseases in women. The study was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Autoimmune disorders…