Polish scientists have stopped multiple sclerosis in mice

Multiple sclerosis averted. Specific leukocytes from a mouse infected with an intestinal parasite inhibited the progression of the disease in other mice, showed Dr. Katarzyna Donskow-Łysoniewska of the University of Warsaw.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease, in the course of which theórej own lymphocytes destroy comónerves. The lining of the comet’s protuberances is destroyedórek myelin sheath, which disrupts signal transmissionóIn and leads to nervous system dysfunction. The social cost of the disease is compounded by the fact that MS is most often contracted by young people in their 20s–40 years. Perhaps the discovery will contribute to the treatment of diseaseób autoimmune diseases in humans.

The experiments conducted at the UW Department of Biology built on previous knowledge in the field of helminth therapy (treatment of diseasedób m.In. using live nematodes introduced into the patient’s body).

As reported in a communiqué sent to PAP, researchers from the Department of Parasitology have conducted research on a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. From the individualów, in whichóhe disease remission was observed during the parasite infection, certain leukocytes (white blood cells) were isolated, whichóre transferred into the bloodstream of diseased mice. As a result of this experiment, inhibition of the symptom was observed after 2-3 daysóin the disease, and after about 9 days a complete inhibition of the. To date, these accreted leukocytesów have not been associated with remission of inflammation in autoimmune diseases.

– We know that parasites have an amazing ability to suppress the immune response of their host, allowing them to inhabit the body for a long time without triggering an inflammatory response. Thus, in individualsób with autoimmune diseases the presence of intestinal nematodes in the body results in inhibition of excessive inflammatory response and consequently symptomóin the diseasedób, such as non-specific inflammatory bowel diseases and even multiple sclerosis (MS). Our experiments were aimed at indicating the mechanismów that are induced during treatment with live nematodes in mice with autoimmune inflammation móof the thoracic and spinal cord-model of MS. During the experimentów We have identified a new population of leukocytesóin whichóThe number of leukocytes increases significantly during disease remission in nematode-infected mice – explained Dr. Donskow-Łysoniewska.

Further studies have shown that it is possible to activate and increase the number of this type of leukocytesów not only in the body of diseased mice (in vivo), but also ex vivo – in blood taken from diseased mice. – It is very likely that the discovered mechanism will work róAlso in the case of other chorób autoimmune diseases, as it can be universal in nature. We will soon begin experiments on mice affected by Alzheimer’s disease – added Dr. Donskow-Łysoniewska.

For the time being, it is not known how durable the therapeutic effect of the indicated leukocytes isów – in mice persists for several weeks.

Need for resourcesów for further study

According to the author of the study, the discovery has great commercialization potential, as it can become the basis for developing effective and rapid therapies not only for multiple sclerosis, but also for other diseasesób autoimmune. However, since the resultóin the experimentów on mice cannot be transferred directly to humans for mów talk about the production of specific drugsóin whether to develop a therapy, further research is needed.

For reasons ofów ethical therapies using live nematodes are difficult to apply. It is possible, however, that the patient’s blood could be treated with the agentów of parasitic origin, and the specific leukocytes that appear could then be isolated and injected into the patient’s. However, such use requires a lot of research and effortóin financial. – For practical use of the resultsów research on mice is still a long way off,” Dr. Donskow-Łysoniewska noted in an interview with PAP.

– Need for investment and further research. First of all, it is necessary to demonstrate that the discovered mechanism works róalso in humans. This type of research, however, is very expensive and subject to such regulations that the university would not be able to conduct it on its own. That’s why we are already in talks with industry investors and at the same time we are after filing a patent application – explained Robert Dwilinski, director of the University Technology Transfer Center.

In his opinion, despite the very promising outcome of the experimentóin and the market potential of the discovery, the first therapy and drugs – o long as all stages of commercialization can be successfully passed – will be available on the market in eight to ten years.