Study shows promise in repairing damaged myelin

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https://neurosciencenews.com/multiple-sclerosis-myelin-repair-12007/


Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that breaks down the myelin sheath around nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. The breakdown of this myelin causes the disruption of electrical signals from the brain to muscles. It currently effects 2.3 million people and there is currently no cure for MS and no medication that can remyelinate the damaged axons. It is known that myelin can regrow due to thyroid hormones but this has not been perused due to unacceptable side effects including hyperthyroidism Research at Oregon Health and science university have created a compound that can stimulate repair in the myelin sheath in the brain and spinal cord. The study is currently being used on mice that have been genetically engineered to mimic MS. While human trials are still years away, if this breakthrough gets to human trials it will be able to accomplish two goals. The first goal is to repair myelin with minimal side effects. The other goal is an efficient delivery. Researchers have developed a new derivative of sobetirome that penetrates the blood barrier, enabling a tenfold increase in infiltration to the central nervous system. When tested on mice they found that it not only triggered myelin repair but they were also able to measure substantial motor improvements.
This article relates to what we have covered in class about Multiple Sclerosis. The myelin is fatty layer that insulates the nervous. This fatty layer allows for electrical signals to travel from the brain and the spinal cord through the central nervous system and goes to the various nerves of the body. Once the signals go through the myelin the body is able to move. Multiple Sclerosis is the depletes the surrounding axons in the central nervous system and it slows conduction down. In severe cases the signals will stop at the nerves because there is nowhere for it to go. The brain will still be able to send signals to the nerves but the nerves will be unable send the signal to the body. Movement in the areas where the myelin sheath has been destroyed will cease. This new study, if and when it goes to human trials has the chance to reverse the effects of MS and allows for movement to come back. 

Comments

  1. UnknownApril 21, 2019 at 11:50 AM

    The Methods used in this study are quite revolutionary, in its ability to regrow myelin not just in the body, but also being able to penetrate the blood brain barrier and effect he brain as well. Yet unless they are able to stop the body specifically the immune system from destroying the myelin, in the body, a cure will not be made. This drug will make the lives of People suffering from MS much easier and should negate most of the problems associated with MS assuming that people can afford the drug.

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  2. Ashley AkinwaleApril 21, 2019 at 8:53 PM

    Being able to find a possible new treatment for MS, is quite extraordinary. I have been unable to find any new or helpful information to add this new treatment. However, the use of creating a derivative of sobetirome is interesting. Sobetirome was originally envisioned to help stimulate hepatic pathways that lower cholesterol without harmful side effects. It seems as though, Sobetirome is good at alleviating symptoms without having adverse effects, under a different name (GC-1) it was also helpful in aiding in weight loss and fat in mice, but has yet to be tested on humans.

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  3. Jenna WhiteApril 22, 2019 at 12:10 AM

    I am excited to see how this goes. To be able to grow new myelin can be life changing for people with MS. I remember learning in another class that we have found that some minerals like zinc and iron may contribute to how MS progresses. But now there are studies being done that shows that we can possibly cure MS through thyriod hormones is eye-opening and I hope that it expands.

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