Neuropathic pain is a serious symptom experienced by many people with multiple sclerosis that can result in abnormal sensations (e.g. tingling and burning), spontaneous pain and increased sensitivity. Recent studies have indicated that immune and inflammatory pathways are involved in causing neuropathic pain.

A recent study from researchers at UNSW (The University of New South Wales), published in the Journal of Neuroimmunology, has investigated both the cause of this pain and a potential novel treatment for it. In animal studies of MS, the initiation of the disease is often induced by the injection of peptides (small segments of proteins) derived from the myelin sheath. In this study, they showed that injecting rats with a specific peptide from the major protein of myelin led to neuropathic pain, but not paralytic disease. This suggested that neuropathic pain is the result of an autoimmune response. Interestingly, they showed that injecting the same peptide in combination along with a slightly altered version of it resulted in the immune response being changed. This led to a decreased amount of neuropathic pain experienced by the rats.

This study provides evidence for the use of altered myelin peptides as a potential therapeutic for the treatment of neuropathic pain in people with MS. Previous trials with similar compounds have been discontinued due to negative side-effects, so further work needs to be undertaken to produce a more tolerable response.

The full abstract for this article can be viewed here.

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