August 22, 2023 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Study shows mechanisms that help immune cells get into brain in MS Researchers have shed new light on the molecular mechanisms that help immune cells get into the brain to drive inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS). Two proteins called MMP-9 and MMP-2 were found to break down some components of the barrier that keeps immune cells out of the brain, helping…
June 14, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Blood-clotting protein triggers brain inflammation in MS: Study A blood-clotting protein called fibrin can activate immune cells in the brain and contribute to inflammation and neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS), a study revealed. Because blood vessels become leaky in neurodegenerative conditions like MS, the blood can cross into the brain, which is known to activate multiple pro-inflammatory…
March 21, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD BDNF Risk Variant Linked to Brain Inflammation in New RRMS Patients A risk variant in the BDNF gene is tied to increased brain inflammation and reduced cortical thickness on MRI scans in people newly diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a recent study found. āWe report for the first time an association between the BDNF [genetic variant] and central inflammation…
October 26, 2021 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Stem Cells (MSCs) Fail to Reduce Brain Inflammation in Active MS Into-the-vein treatment with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) failed to significantly reduce brain inflammation or improve clinical conditions among adults with active multiple sclerosis (MS) in an international Phase 2 clinical trial, according to final study data. The trial, which used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to assess…
August 31, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Immune T-cells Trigger Early MS Inflammation, Twin Study RevealsĀ A comparison of immune cells isolated from identical twins ā in which only one of each pair was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) ā identified a population of immune-regulating T-cells present in those with asymptomatic brain inflammation, a study has found.Ā …
November 14, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD 7T MRI Reveals New Insights into Some RRMS Features With the help of 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), investigators discovered that leptomeningeal enhancement ā a radiographic finding indicative of brain inflammation ā is more common than previously thought in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisĀ (RRMS), and is tied to lesions in specific regions of the brain.
January 10, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein Targeting Gut Immune Cells May Alleviate Brain Inflammation in MS, Study Suggests A type of immune cell from the gut can reduce brain inflammation in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and increasing the numbers of these cells in a mouse model of the disease halts inflammation completely, new research reports. These findings were reported in the study, āRecirculating…
May 23, 2018 News by Diogo Pinto European EMA Confirms Severe Risks Associated with MS Medicine Zinbryta A review of data concerning the multiple sclerosis (MS) medicine Zinbryta (daclizumab) confirmed its association with the risk of developing severe and potentially fatal immune reactions in the brain, liver and other organs, according to the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA)ās Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC). Zinbryta was authorized…
October 2, 2017 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News That Caught My Eye Last Week: Scooter-User Falls, Aggressive Treatment, and Brain Inflammation Falls Common Among Wheelchair, Scooter Users in People with MS, Study Reports It’s happened to me. I’ve gone over backwardĀ when I tried to “gun” the throttle of my lightweight scooter when its rear wheels were up against a door threshold. And my heavier scooter can have a…
May 23, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Brain IFN-gamma Drives MS Disease Processes, Russian Immune Factor Analysis Finds MS brain inflammation is a result of interactions between processes in the brain and the rest of the body, with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) being a key player, according to a detailed analysis of cytokines in the spinal fluid and serum of MS patients. Russia’sĀ Kazan Federal UniversityĀ found that IFN-gamma activates other…
January 24, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD 2 Cases of Brain Inflammation Raise Questions of Lemtrada Safety, But Link Uncertain Two multiple sclerosis (MS) patients developed severe brain inflammation after being treatedĀ with Lemtrada (alemtuzumab), researchers report, raising questions about the therapy. A definite link between the lesions and the treatment, however, was not established. The patients’Ā symptomsĀ were successfully controlled with a blood transfusion and treatment with rituximab (brand name Rituxan,…
December 8, 2015 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MS Therapy Aims to Slow Brain Inflammation with Fewer Side Effects A research team from the University of Alberta, Canada, is exploring a new therapeutic way ofĀ reducing brain inflammation inĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with fewer side effects. The study, titled āGranzyme B-inhibitor serpina3n induces neuroprotection in vitro and in vivo,ā appearedĀ in the Journal of Neuroinflammation. Most available…