Possible New MS Treatment Method Discovered

Researchers from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) announced a reassuring new method of treating multiple sclerosis (MS), which could lead to new pharmacological options for treating the condition.

In their study, researchers identified an MS-related change to the spinal chord and an approach that successfully decreases damage to the nerve cells and reduces motor problems in patients. The technique involves creating a new peptide and using it to disrupt a protein from attaching to a specific cell receptor of the glutamate neurotransmitter.
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“We found that our peptide disrupted this linkage, and led to major improvements in neurological functioning,” said Fang Liu, PhD, Senior Scientist in CAMH’s Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute and Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto.

“Specifically, motor function was significantly better compared to a comparison group. The peptide also had a positive impact on the nerve damage associated with MS – it reduced neuron death, and rescued the protective coating of neurons called myelin, which is characteristic of MS. It also increased the survival of the cells that produce myelin,” she said.

The researchers noted that while the new peptide successfully blocked the linkage, it did not inhibit the body’s immune response system or physiologically essential neuron transmissions in the brain.

While the exact cause of MS is largely unknown, researchers understand that immune response is a key factor and their new method could help in the creation of future medications to alleviate symptoms and slow down the progression of the illness.

—Michelle Canales Butcher

Reference:

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. FDA permits marketing of fecal incontinence device for women [press release]. www.camh.ca/en/hospital/about_camh/newsroom/news_releases_media_advisories_and_backgrounders/current_year/Pages/New-drug-target-for-multiple-sclerosis-discovered.aspx. Accessed February 19, 2015.