New Look Into Origins of MS

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Study Offers New Look Into Origins of MS

Finds tissue around nerves isn't first to be destroyed

MONDAY, Feb. 23 (HealthDayNews) -- A rare look at the brain lesions

characteristic of multiple sclerosis may provide new insight into the

biological origins of the disease...

.... myelin is destroyed. Taking its place is scar tissue, or sclerosis. The

damaged areas are also known as plaques or lesions. Without myelin, the

nerves lose much of their ability to conduct electrical impulses to and from

the brain...

.... researchers found that oligodendrocytes, the cells that produce the

myelin, were dying at this early stage of lesion formation.

Scientists have long believed the earliest event in MS was an immune system

attack on the myelin. In this case at least, it appears the cells that

produce myelin die first, perhaps prompting an invasion by immune system

cells...

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