Tuesday, February 20, 2007
MS Conception Connection
MS researchers find conception connection
Canadian Press
CALGARY — The miracle of life could eventually hold the key to a miracle of sorts for thousands of people suffering from multiple sclerosis, say researchers at the University of Calgary.
Between 55,000 and 75,000 Canadians suffer from MS, a chronic disease in which the body's own immune system attacks myelin, a fatty substance coating the brain and spinal cord. The resulting damage causes lesions that make it difficult for messages to travel through the central nervous system, leading to a progressive loss of sensation and movement.
But there is evidence that MS goes into remission when women become pregnant, and in some cases the body actually begins to repair some of the damage.
Researchers found the hormone prolactin, which is produced during pregnancy, encouraged the spontaneous production of myelin in the brains and spinal cords of pregnant mice. In addition, during pregnancy, the immune system no longer destroyed myelin.
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Results of the Calgary study are being published in Wednesday's issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.
“If you put it altogether, it suggests that increases in prolactin makes more myelin, which may contribute to some of the repair that is seen during pregnancy in MS,” explained Dr. Samuel Weiss, senior author of the study and director of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute.
“It also suggests that prolactin itself may be a potential therapeutic model for treating MS.”
All current treatments for the disease target the immune system in the early stages, but once the lesions form on the brain and spinal cord, there are no treatments.
It will probably be several years before studies can be done on human subjects, and the hormone represents only a potential treatment and not a cure, cautioned Dr. Weiss.
Dr. V. Wee Yong, who worked with Dr. Weiss on the study, said it seems appropriate that pregnancy and the creation of new life may lead to an eventual treatment that will improve the lives of thousands of others.
“It's remarkable. I mean pregnancy is a stressful state, and what is increasingly appreciated is during pregnancy there is the regeneration of a lot of cells,” said Dr. Yong.
“If we understood the biological processes that contribute to the improvement of well-being during pregnancy, one could now have a lead to take that into a therapeutic situation.”
An official with the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada called the announcement significant.
“We're looking at a naturally occurring hormone that has never been looked at on how it can improve MS symptoms,” said Stewart Wong. “People who have MS today should be pleased with the research that's taking place.”
Research involving methods of increasing the production of myelin could be useful in the treatment of other neurological problems such as spinal cord injuries and stroke, said Dr. Fred Gage of the Salk Institute in San Diego.
Dr. Gage, an international leader in nervous system repair, was not involved in the study.
Canadian Press
CALGARY — The miracle of life could eventually hold the key to a miracle of sorts for thousands of people suffering from multiple sclerosis, say researchers at the University of Calgary.
Between 55,000 and 75,000 Canadians suffer from MS, a chronic disease in which the body's own immune system attacks myelin, a fatty substance coating the brain and spinal cord. The resulting damage causes lesions that make it difficult for messages to travel through the central nervous system, leading to a progressive loss of sensation and movement.
But there is evidence that MS goes into remission when women become pregnant, and in some cases the body actually begins to repair some of the damage.
Researchers found the hormone prolactin, which is produced during pregnancy, encouraged the spontaneous production of myelin in the brains and spinal cords of pregnant mice. In addition, during pregnancy, the immune system no longer destroyed myelin.
Related to this article
Latest Comments
Start a conversation on this story
Results of the Calgary study are being published in Wednesday's issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.
“If you put it altogether, it suggests that increases in prolactin makes more myelin, which may contribute to some of the repair that is seen during pregnancy in MS,” explained Dr. Samuel Weiss, senior author of the study and director of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute.
“It also suggests that prolactin itself may be a potential therapeutic model for treating MS.”
All current treatments for the disease target the immune system in the early stages, but once the lesions form on the brain and spinal cord, there are no treatments.
It will probably be several years before studies can be done on human subjects, and the hormone represents only a potential treatment and not a cure, cautioned Dr. Weiss.
Dr. V. Wee Yong, who worked with Dr. Weiss on the study, said it seems appropriate that pregnancy and the creation of new life may lead to an eventual treatment that will improve the lives of thousands of others.
“It's remarkable. I mean pregnancy is a stressful state, and what is increasingly appreciated is during pregnancy there is the regeneration of a lot of cells,” said Dr. Yong.
“If we understood the biological processes that contribute to the improvement of well-being during pregnancy, one could now have a lead to take that into a therapeutic situation.”
An official with the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada called the announcement significant.
“We're looking at a naturally occurring hormone that has never been looked at on how it can improve MS symptoms,” said Stewart Wong. “People who have MS today should be pleased with the research that's taking place.”
Research involving methods of increasing the production of myelin could be useful in the treatment of other neurological problems such as spinal cord injuries and stroke, said Dr. Fred Gage of the Salk Institute in San Diego.
Dr. Gage, an international leader in nervous system repair, was not involved in the study.
