MULTIPLE sclerosis (MS) is a disease where the immune system attacks the central nervous system (CNS). It can be highly debilitating and lead to difficulty in normal bodily functions.
Regulatory T cells help stop the body from attacking itself and do not function properly in a person with MS.
New evidence suggests that inhibiting the action of Piezo1, an ion channel, leads to greater action by regulatory T cells and improvement in remission of MS.
MS affects around 2.8 million people worldwide. Researchers do not yet fully understand all elements of this condition.
Researchers continue to study how the body’s immune system acts in this disease so that they can develop new treatment options.
A new study, which appears in Science Advances, investigates a possible direction for the future treatment of MS.
What is MS?
As noted by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, MS is a disease that impacts the CNS, which consists of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves.
In MS, the body’s immune system cells attack the myelin sheath that surrounds the nerves of the CNS and the cells that produce myelin.
The damage to the CNS leads to areas of scarring and makes communication between nerves difficult.
As noted by the MS International Federation, “In MS, the loss of myelin (demyelination) is accompanied by a disruption in the ability of the nerves to conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain.
This produces the various symptoms of MS.”
People with MS can experience a variety of symptoms. Currently, there is no cure for the disorder. Some of the most common symptoms include:
Some more severe but less common symptoms include hearing loss, difficulty swallowing, seizures, and breathing problems. Research about the cause and treatment options for MS is ongoing.
T cells and Piezo1 White blood cells called T cells form part of the body’s immune response. In MS, the T cells enter the CNS and release compounds that lead to inflammation and damage to the body’s cells.
There are several types of T cells. One of the focuses in the study of MS is regulatory T cells, or Treg cells.
Typically, regulatory T cells stop the body’s immune response and are responsible for maintaining immune homeostasis.
