Blood Protein Leakage Leads to Immune Response That Causes Nerve Damage in MS

What has been found?

Part of the immune response that leads to damage of the nerves in neuroinflammatory disease is activated by the leakage of a protein from the blood called fibrinogen.

What is the significance of this research?

Whilst multiple sclerosis (MS) has been classified as an autoimmune disease for a long time, the targets of the immune system are still unclear. It is thought that the major candidates are proteins of the myelin sheath, the substance that insulates the nerves in our body. Studies have indicated that there are responses generated against these proteins by immune cells, known as T cells.

This research, however, indicates that cells from the innate immune system (the non-specific, first line of defence in our body) play a major role in causing the damage to nerves observed in MS.  Furthermore, they showed that these cells, known as microglia, were activated by a blood protein known as fibrinogen.  By isolating the factor that leads to the axonal damage, it becomes possible to target this interaction for potential therapeutic benefit.  Research will now look at inhibiting the recognition of fibrinogen by microglia, thus resulting in a decrease in the damage to nerves and decreasing the progression of MS.  This may lead to a potential new therapies in the future.

The above summary is of the article found at the following link:

http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v3/n11/full/ncomms2230.html