According to a story from EurekAlert!, a recent study from the University of Zurich has illuminated the connection between the gastrointestinal flora and multiple sclerosis. The discovery illuminates the potential trajectory of the inflammatory response from the immune system that ultimately causes the damage to the myelin sheath that is seen in multiple sclerosis.
About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease which is characterized by damage to the myelin sheath, an fatty, insulating, protective covering that surrounds nerve cells and allows the to communicate effectively. Although a precise cause has not been determined, multiple sclerosis is considered an autoimmune disease, in which a certain trigger, such as an infection, may cause the immune system to mistakenly attack healthy tissue. Smoking and certain genetic variants are also considered risk factors for the disease. Symptoms include blurred vision, double vision, blindness in one eye, numbness, abnormal sensations, pain, muscle weakness, muscle spasms, difficulty speaking and swallowing, mood instability, depression, loss of coordination, and fatigue. There are a number of treatments available for the disease, but no cure. Life expectancy for patients is slightly reduced. To learn more about multiple sclerosis, click here.
Findings
The researchers found the T-cells, which are an essential component of the immune system and also play a major role in autoimmune disease, respond to the release of a certain enzyme which is called GDP-L-fucose synthase. This protein is released by some cells of the human body, but the scientists also noticed that the bacteria commonly found in the digestive system of patients also release it. With this in mind, it appears that the immune response may first be triggered in the intestines and then travels to the brain, where the corresponding myelin sheath damage the occurs.
New Approaches
This discovery is a significant breakthrough in understanding the nature of multiple sclerosis. In the past, the activity of the microbiota in the digestive tract was not considered to be a factor. This new knowledge about the autoimmune mechanism has the potential to lead to new therapeutic approaches for the illness. These new approaches are intended to target the immune cells that play the most active role in multiple sclerosis, as many current treatments suppress a lot of immune system activity, which can have serious side effects and consequences for patients.
Check out the original study here.
