Markers For Severe Form of Multiple Sclerosis Identified

Summary: Researchers from Yale University have discovered two cytokines that could help explain how some people develop PPMS. They report a simple genetic test could be used to identify those most at risk of developing progressive multiple sclerosis.

Source: Yale University.

Scientists have uncovered two closely related cytokines — molecules involved in cell communication and movement — that may explain why some people develop progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), the most severe form of the disease. The findings, authored by researchers at Yale University, Oregon Health & Science University, and the University of California point the way toward developing a novel treatment to prevent progressive forms of the disease.

The research was published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Researchers identified a cytokine, called macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), along with its related protein, D-dopachrome tautomerase (D-DT), which are associated with progressive MS. These cytokines worsen the disease by increasing inflammation within the central nervous system. The researchers also linked enhanced expression of MIF with a gene variant that occurred more frequently in MS patients with progressive disease — particularly in men.

These findings suggest that a simple genetic test could be used to identify MS patients at risk of developing the more severe form of the disease. As medications to halt the disease are under development, the researchers say that such a therapy could be used as part of a precision medicine approach that would be most effective in patients who have the MIF genetic susceptibility.

“The value of this discovery to patients is that there are now approved therapies, as well as new ones in development in the Oregon and Yale labs, which target the MIF pathway and could be directed toward progressive MS,” said co-senior author Richard Bucala, M.D., professor of medicine, pathology, and epidemiology, and public health at Yale. Using a simple genetic test to select patients who might benefit the most from MIF blockers would accelerate drug development by reducing cost, decreasing risks of toxic effects, and providing a genetically tailored, effective treatment, he said.

This image shows a DNA strand.
Scientists made the discovery through the careful clinical observation of patients with MS combined with immunologic and DNA analysis of their samples. NeuroscienceNews.com image is credited to Annchen R. Knodt, Yale University.

“If you start a therapy before the disease has progressed very far, you have a much better opportunity to slow it or stop it,” said co-senior author Arthur Vandenbark, a professor of neurology and molecular microbiology and immunology at the OHSU School of Medicine. “We now have a rational, molecular target for slowing or preventing the transition from relapsing-remitting to progressive MS, a stage of MS which is much more severe.”

Scientists made the discovery through the careful clinical observation of patients with MS combined with immunologic and DNA analysis of their samples. In addition, researchers combined their human investigations with laboratory work showing that a therapeutic agent previously developed to successfully treat MS-like disease in rodents could block the pathologic action of both MIF and D-DT on its immune receptor — the first time such a molecular intervention was achieved.

MS is a chronic condition that affects an estimated 2.3 million people worldwide. In MS, the sheath covering nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord becomes damaged, slowing or blocking electrical signals from the brain reaching the eyes, muscles, and other parts of the body.

About this neuroscience research article

Other study author are Gil Benedek, Roberto Meza-Romero, Kelley Jordan, Ying Zhang, Ha Nguyen, Gail Kent, Jia Li, Edwin Siu, Jenny Frazer, Marta Piecychna, Xin Du, Antoine Sreih, Lin Leng, Jack Wiedrick, Stacy Caillier, Halina Offner, Jorge R. Oksenberg, Vijayshree Yadav, and Dennis Bourdette.

Funding: This research was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Rocky Mountain MS Center Tissue Bank, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. A.A.V., H.O., G.B., R.M.-R., and Oregon Health & Science University have a significant financial interest in Artielle ImmunoTherapeutics, Inc., a company that may have a commercial interest in the results of this research and technology.

Source: Ziba Kashef – Yale University
Image Source: NeuroscienceNews.com image is in the public domain.
Original Research: Abstract for “MIF and D-DT are potential disease severity modifiers in male MS subjects” by Gil Benedek, Roberto Meza-Romero, Kelley Jordan, Ying Zhang, Ha Nguyen, Gail Kent, Jia Li, Edwin Siu, Jenny Frazer, Marta Piecychna, Xin Du, Antoine Sreih, Lin Leng, Jack Wiedrick, Stacy J. Caillier, Halina Offner, Jorge R. Oksenberg, Vijayshree Yadav, Dennis Bourdette, Richard Bucala, and Arthur A. Vandenbark in PNAS. Published online September 18 2017 doi:10.1073/pnas.1712288114

Cite This NeuroscienceNews.com Article

[cbtabs][cbtab title=”MLA”]Yale University “Markers For Severe Form of Multiple Sclerosis Identified.” NeuroscienceNews. NeuroscienceNews, 18 September 2017.
<https://neurosciencenews.com/multiple-sclerosis-biomarkers-7515/>.[/cbtab][cbtab title=”APA”]Yale University (2017, September 18). Markers For Severe Form of Multiple Sclerosis Identified. NeuroscienceNew. Retrieved September 18, 2017 from https://neurosciencenews.com/multiple-sclerosis-biomarkers-7515/[/cbtab][cbtab title=”Chicago”]Yale University “Markers For Severe Form of Multiple Sclerosis Identified.” https://neurosciencenews.com/multiple-sclerosis-biomarkers-7515/ (accessed September 18, 2017).[/cbtab][/cbtabs]


Abstract

MIF and D-DT are potential disease severity modifiers in male MS subjects

Little is known about mechanisms that drive the development of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), although inflammatory factors, such as macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), its homolog D-dopachrome tautomerase (D-DT), and their common receptor CD74 may contribute to disease worsening. Our findings demonstrate elevated MIF and D-DT levels in males with progressive disease compared with relapsing-remitting males (RRMS) and female MS subjects, with increased levels of CD74 in females vs. males with high MS disease severity. Furthermore, increased MIF and D-DT levels in males with progressive disease were significantly correlated with the presence of two high-expression promoter polymorphisms located in the MIF gene, a −794CATT5–8 microsatellite repeat and a −173 G/C SNP. Conversely, mice lacking MIF or D-DT developed less-severe signs of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a murine model of MS, thus implicating both homologs as copathogenic contributors. These findings indicate that genetically controlled high MIF expression (and D-DT) promotes MS progression in males, suggesting that these two factors are sex-specific disease modifiers and raising the possibility that aggressive anti-MIF treatment of clinically isolated syndrome or RRMS males with a high-expresser genotype might slow or prevent the onset of progressive MS. Additionally, selective targeting of MIF:CD74 signaling might provide an effective, trackable therapeutic approach for MS subjects of both sexes.

“MIF and D-DT are potential disease severity modifiers in male MS subjects” by Gil Benedek, Roberto Meza-Romero, Kelley Jordan, Ying Zhang, Ha Nguyen, Gail Kent, Jia Li, Edwin Siu, Jenny Frazer, Marta Piecychna, Xin Du, Antoine Sreih, Lin Leng, Jack Wiedrick, Stacy J. Caillier, Halina Offner, Jorge R. Oksenberg, Vijayshree Yadav, Dennis Bourdette, Richard Bucala, and Arthur A. Vandenbark in PNAS. Published online September 18 2017 doi:10.1073/pnas.1712288114

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