GOOD NEWS FOR RRMS PATIENTS

MORE VARIETY OF ORAL DRUGS FOR RELAPSING-REMITTING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

1. Aubagio

Chemical name: Terifluonamide

Also known as: A77 1726 

Mechanism of action: This chemical inhibits cells that proliferate rapidly by inhibition of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (required by rapidly dividing cells).  Also, Aubagio blocks the denovo pyrimidine synthesis and so, exerts a cytostatic effect on stimulated proliferation of T and B cells. Hence, it targets overreactive immune responses and avoids their migration into the central nervous system. It does not hamper or stop the pyrimidine salvage pathway and so, the functions of normal and slowly-dividing lyphocytes are maintained.

2. Tecfidera

Chemical Name: Dimethyl Fumarate

Mechanism of action: It is immuno-modulatory and also has anti-inflammatory properties. Hence, it induces the formation of anti-inflammatory cytokines. It may also have neuroprotective effects as it activates a substance critical for cellular damage/oxidative stress resistance.

These are both first line disease modifying drug therapies, which is good news for those with relapsing/remitting MS!

Phase I clinical trials for Multiple Sclerosis using bone marrow cells

CLINICAL TRIALS FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS APPROVED

Multiple Sclerosis is an auto-immune disorder in which the immune system attacks the myelin sheath covering the neurons. This myelin sheath on axonal parts is essential for the conduction of signals/messages from the brain to the various muscles of the body.

The mesechymal stem cells are those derived from the bone marrow. The approved phase I clinical trial will primarily determine the safety of introducing autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cell-derived neural progenitors (MSC-NPs). The isolated and expanded autologous MSC-NPs will be injected into the spinal theca and, this will be done for six months. It is a three-year study during which the participants will have follow-up visits frequently and upto 27 months followed by the final injection.

The proof-of-concept was exhibited in the Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) animal model (Harris et al., J Neurol Sci, 2012). This study demonstrated the therapeutic potential of MSC-NPs in EAE mice. This study showed that the injected MSC-NPs influenced the rate of repair by migrating to the demyelinated areas and effecting the endogeneous progenitors in the spinal cord. The protocol of the clinical trial, regarding dosage and its frequency, comes from this research.

SOMATIC TO PLURIPOTENT CONVERSION BY DECREASED pH

SOMATIC TO PLURIPOTENT CONVERSION BY DECREASED pH

Hi everyone!
According to a recent research performed by Haruko et al., somatic cells can be converted into pluripotent cells by lowering the pH, that is, dipping them in acid. This procedure of reprogramming cells has been quoted as 'Stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency' i.e. STAP.
As per the epigenetics, the pluripotent cells have the 'stemness' genes demethylated. The research reports that these reprogrammed cells showed a significant decrease in DNA methylation in the regulatory regions of pluripotency marker genes.
In addition, the injection of these cells into blastocysts generated chimeras via germline transmission. And, the derivation of expandable pluripotent cell lines has also been demonstrated.

Link to the article: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v505/n7485/full/nature12968.html