Th17 cells

Blocking Kidney Protein Prevents Progression in MS Mouse Model

A protein called nephronectin mediates autoimmunity in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), and blocking this protein was found to prevent disease progression and processes that drive T-cells toward an inflammatory state, researchers reported. Study findings support nephronectin, a protein involved in kidney development, as a promising treatment…

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.

Destroying Myelin-damaging Immune Cells May Be New Therapy

Vesicles containing the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin can be used to destroy the aberrant, myelin-damaging immune cells that contribute to multiple sclerosis (MS), suppressing the progression of the neurodegenerative disorder, according to recent research findings using a mouse model. If further validated, this technique could provide physicians with a new…

Male Immune Cells Drive More Severe MS, Study Suggests

Due to differences in sex chromosomes, certain immune cells cause more severe disease in males than females, according to a new study in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS). The findings could help to explain why biological males with MS tend to have more severe disease. The study,…

Immune Treg Cells Seen to Ease Paralysis in Mouse Model of MS

Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) ā€” immune cells that normally dampen immune and inflammatory responses by inhibiting the activity of pro-inflammatory immune cells ā€” enabled mice in a model of multiple sclerosisĀ to partly recover from limb and tail paralysis, scientists reported. Tregs can do this by preventing a subtype of…

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Cancer Medication Slows MS, Vitamin D and Myelin, Targeting ‘Helper’ T-cells, Vaccination Guidelines

Ofatumumab Better at Easing Relapse Rates and Slowing MS Progression Than Aubagio, Phase 3 Data Show Ofatumumab isn’t approved as a multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment. It’s a cancer medication that’s marketed as Arzerra. But in two clinical trials reported here, it did better than Aubagio at treating MS. Its…

Inflammatory Th17 Cells Seen to Trigger Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in MS Mouse Model

The pro-inflammatory Th17 cells that characterize multiple sclerosis (MS) may also underlie symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), results of a mouse study show. The study, ā€œAuto-Reactive Th17-Cells Trigger Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder Like Behavior in Mice With Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis,ā€ was published in the journalĀ Frontiers in Immunology. “For the first time,…

‘Low T’ and MS Risk in Men

Statistics show that men are three times less likely than women to develop multiple sclerosis. Research has shown that men also develop MS at a later age than women and that their disease is more progressive. Could this all be related to “low T,” or low testosterone? Researchers…

Stressful Environment Triggers Inflammatory Cells Linked to Autoimmune Diseases Like MS, Study Shows

A stressful microenvironment, characterized by low metabolites and low oxygen levels, triggers the generation of immune cells directly implicated in a variety of inflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The study, ā€œCellular Stress in the Context of an Inflammatory Environment Supports TGF-Ī²-Independent T Helper-17 Differentiation,ā€ was…

Component of Traditional Medicinal Herb Improves Symptoms in MS Mouse Model, Study Shows

Paeoniflorin (PF), a herb component used in Chinese medicine, improved symptoms and reduced inflammation in a mouse model that recapitulates the human features of multiple sclerosis (MS). The study, ā€œPaeoniflorin Ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis via Inhibition of Dendritic Cell Function and Th17 Cell Differentiationā€, appearedĀ in the journal…

#ECTRIMS2016 – Protein Seen as New Target in Preventing Brain Inflammation in MS

Researchers found that blocking a protein,Ā known asĀ integrin alpha 8, may workĀ to prevent inflammation in the central nervous system of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The results were revealedĀ in an oral presentation, ā€œIntegrin alpha8 is a novel mediator of T lymphocyte migration across the CNS barriers,ā€ atĀ theĀ 32nd Congress of theĀ European Committee…

Results of New SPMS Study to Be Presented at ACTRIMS

At the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum 2016, being held from Feb. 18ā€“20 inĀ New Orleans, LA, researchers haveĀ gathered to discuss ā€œProgressive MS: Bench to Bedside and Back,ā€ the meetingā€™s theme. Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) is one of four types of MS, and is…

Multiple Sclerosis-like Disorder Blocked in Mice Study

Researchers demonstrated a processĀ that prevented an induced autoimmune disease from taking hold in the central nervous system of mice, and think it has the potential of being translated into a multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy. The study detailing the method and its promising results is entitled ā€œInfusion of Sulfosuccinimidyl-4-[N-maleimidomethyl]cyclohexane-1-carboxylate-Conjugated MOG35ā€“55-Coupled…

Potential Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Based on CCR2 Inhibition

New research atĀ the University of Adelaide, Australia, may help pave the way toward the potential inhibition of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases. The study entitled ā€œCCR2 definesĀ in vivoĀ development and homing of IL-23-driven GM-CSF-producing Th17 cellsā€ was published in the journalĀ …