A mitochondrial component of neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis.

Publication/Presentation Date

1-1-2003

Abstract

Neurodegeneration is the main pathological correlate of accumulating disability in progressive stages of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), but both histologic and imaging studies detect significant tissue loss even in early disease. These observations raise the question as to whether neurodegeneration in MS is a primary mechanism or whether it develops secondary to inflammation and demyelination. Recent data suggest that the atrophy of brain and cord is directly linked to inflammation and may partly be independent of demyelination. Released products of both residential and infiltrating immune cells can induce ultrastructural changes and celldeath by multiple mechanism. We propose that the inflammation-induced tissue response is controlled by genetic variations and to some extent involves a mitochondrion-driven mechanism in MS, similar to that described in the final pathway of other neurodegenerative disorders. Current therapeutic strategies primarily target the immune system which results in a successful down-regulation of plaque formation and of relapse rate. However, measures of clinical disability best correlate with the degree of neurodegeneration rather than with the volume of plaques, and these immune-modulating regimens may only incompletely affect the accumulating tissue loss. Considering the need for additional therapeutic strategies, we emphasize the degenerative components, and review a mitochondrial mechanism of tissue loss potentially involved in the process of MS.

Volume

3

Issue

3

First Page

147

Last Page

158

ISSN

1535-1084

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

12835510

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS