A new treatment reduces inflammation in multiple sclerosis mice models


Date:
April 26, 2022
Source:
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona
Summary:
Researchers managed to reduce chronic inflammation associated with
multiple sclerosis in mice thanks to the administration of a type
of lipid that mediates inflammation.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A team led by the Institut de Neurocie`ncies at the Universitat Auto`noma
de Barcelona (INc-UAB) managed to reduce chronic inflammation associated
with multiple sclerosis in mice thanks to the administration of a type
of lipid that mediates inflammation. The team found that these types
of mediator substances, responsible for resolving the inflammatory
process when it is no longer beneficial, are minimized in people with
multiple sclerosis as well as in animal models of the disease. The use
of these mediators could become a good strategy for the treatment of
this autoimmune disease.


========================================================================== Acute inflammation is a protective response to infection that promotes
tissue regeneration after injury. Once its function has been performed,
a series of mechanisms regulated by lipids acting as mediators are
responsible for resolving it. An error in the resolution response results
in uncontrolled inflammation that is detrimental for the tissues. In
multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disorder in which the body's defense
cells attack the lining of the tail of neurons (myelin), the inflammation
is persistent and plays a key role in the development of the disease.

A research team led by Rube'n Lo'pez-Vales, Professor of Physiology at
the UAB and researcher at the Neuroplasticity and Regeneration Group,
INC-UAB, has managed to reduce the chronic inflammation associated with multiple sclerosis in a mice model of the disease, by administering one of
the resolving lipid mediators of inflammation, Maresin-1. The substance
exerted a therapeutic effect on mice, drastically reducing the amount
of proteins promoting inflammation (cytokines), as well as the number
of cells in the immune system in both the spinal cord and the blood. A continuous administration of the lipid over time also protected neurons
from demyelination and improved the effects of neurological deterioration caused by the disease.

In the study, published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, researchers
looked at samples from patients with multiple sclerosis and from mice
models, and found that there was insufficient production of Maresin-1
and other lipid mediators that end inflammation. The levels of these immunosuppressive substances, which were almost undetectable, prevented
the inflammatory process from stopping.

"Our results suggest that one of the body's mechanisms for resolving inflammation is not working properly in patients with multiple sclerosis,
which could partly explain the episodes of autoimmunity they experience,"
says Dr.

Lo'pez-Vales.

The study, conducted in collaboration with the University of Montreal
and the Universidad de La Repu'blica in Uruguay, points to therapy with inflammatory- resolving mediators as an innovative and promising strategy
for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases
needing further research.

Finally, Lo'pez-Vales explains that the next steps will be a series of
tests and experiments to demonstrate the safety of the administration of
this lipid, which could allow them to address possible efficacy studies
in humans.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
Universitat_Autonoma_de_Barcelona. Note: Content may be edited for style
and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Alba Sa'nchez-Ferna'ndez, Stephanie Zandee, Mauricio Mastrogiovanni,
Marc
Charabati, Homero Rubbo, Alexandre Prat, Rube`n Lo'pez-Vales.

Administration of Maresin-1 ameliorates the physiopathology
of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Journal of
Neuroinflammation, 2022; 19 (1) DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02386-1 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220426101648.htm

--- up 8 weeks, 1 day, 10 hours, 51 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)