Early Warning for Multiple Sclerosis: Immune Attacks Detected Up to Seven Years Before Diagnosis
San Francisco, CA – Researchers at UCSF have discovered evidence of immune system attacks on the protective myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibers in individuals up to seven years before they experience noticeable symptoms or seek medical attention for multiple sclerosis (MS). The groundbreaking findings, published in Nature Medicine, offer the potential to revolutionize early diagnosis and preventative strategies for the debilitating neurological disease.
the study, led by Ahmed Abdelhak and colleagues, analyzed blood samples collected years prior to diagnosis from military personnel. Utilizing high-throughput proteomics, researchers identified distinct protein spikes indicative of brain and nerve damage occurring long before clinical onset. Specifically, evidence of myelin injury was detected approximately seven years before symptoms appeared, preceding axonal injury – damage to the nerve fibers themselves – by about a year.
“We found that myelin injury precedes axonal injury and symptomatic onset in multiple sclerosis,” the research team stated in their published work.
The research also pinpointed the involvement of specific biological pathways, notably those involving interleukin-3 and nuclear factor kappa B, during this presymptomatic stage. Individuals with a particular autoantibody signature also exhibited heightened immune cell activity.
Researchers propose that a protein biomarker panel, still requiring validation, could potentially distinguish individuals destined to develop MS from healthy controls.This early detection could allow for intervention before irreversible nerve damage takes hold.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease that affects the central nervous system. It occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks myelin, disrupting communication between the brain and the body. Currently, there is no cure for MS, but treatments can definitely help manage symptoms and slow disease progression. This new research offers a critical step towards a future where MS can be detected and potentially prevented before notable neurological damage occurs.
Original Research: “Myelin injury precedes axonal injury and symptomatic onset in multiple sclerosis” by Ahmed Abdelhak et al. Nature Medicine.
source: UCSF.
