ScienceDaily (July 31, 2012) — Wayne State University School of
Medicine researchers, working with colleagues in Canada, have found that one or
more substances produced by a type of immune cell in people with multiple
sclerosis (MS) may play a role in the disease’s progression. The finding could
lead to new targeted therapies for MS treatment.
Medicine researchers, working with colleagues in Canada, have found that one or
more substances produced by a type of immune cell in people with multiple
sclerosis (MS) may play a role in the disease’s progression. The finding could
lead to new targeted therapies for MS treatment.
B cells, said Robert Lisak, M.D., professor of neurology at Wayne
State and lead author of the study, are a subset of lymphocytes (a type of
circulating white blood cell) that mature to become plasma cells and produce
immunoglobulins, proteins that serve as antibodies. The B cells appear to have
other functions, including helping to regulate other lymphocytes, particularly
T cells, and helping maintain normal immune function when healthy.
State and lead author of the study, are a subset of lymphocytes (a type of
circulating white blood cell) that mature to become plasma cells and produce
immunoglobulins, proteins that serve as antibodies. The B cells appear to have
other functions, including helping to regulate other lymphocytes, particularly
T cells, and helping maintain normal immune function when healthy.
In
patients with MS, the B cells appear to attack the brain and spinal cord,
possibly because there are substances produced in the nervous system and the
meninges — the covering of the brain and spinal cord — that attract them.
Once within the meninges or central nervous system, Lisak said, the activated B
cells secrete one or more substances that do not seem to be immunoglobulins but
that damage oligodendrocytes, the cells that produce a protective substance
called myelin.
patients with MS, the B cells appear to attack the brain and spinal cord,
possibly because there are substances produced in the nervous system and the
meninges — the covering of the brain and spinal cord — that attract them.
Once within the meninges or central nervous system, Lisak said, the activated B
cells secrete one or more substances that do not seem to be immunoglobulins but
that damage oligodendrocytes, the cells that produce a protective substance
called myelin.
The
B cells appear to be more active in patients with MS, which may explain why
they produce these toxic substances and, in part, why they are attracted to the
meninges and the nervous system.
B cells appear to be more active in patients with MS, which may explain why
they produce these toxic substances and, in part, why they are attracted to the
meninges and the nervous system.
The researchers
took B cells from the blood of seven patients with relapsing-remitting MS and
from four healthy patients. They grew the cells in a medium, and after removing
the cells from the culture collected material produced by the cells. After
adding the material produced by the B cells, including the cells that produce
myelin, to the brain cells of animal models, the scientists found significantly
more oligodendrocytes from the MS group died when compared to material produced
by the B cells from the healthy control group. The team also found differences
in other brain cells that interact with oligodendrocytes in the brain.
took B cells from the blood of seven patients with relapsing-remitting MS and
from four healthy patients. They grew the cells in a medium, and after removing
the cells from the culture collected material produced by the cells. After
adding the material produced by the B cells, including the cells that produce
myelin, to the brain cells of animal models, the scientists found significantly
more oligodendrocytes from the MS group died when compared to material produced
by the B cells from the healthy control group. The team also found differences
in other brain cells that interact with oligodendrocytes in the brain.
..
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