Posted on 06/21/2011 11:36:21 AM PDT by decimon
Scientists at The University of Nottingham have discovered a molecular mechanism which could bring about the development of new treatments for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) — a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system.
Dr Bruno Gran, a Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Clinical Neurology in the School of Clinical Sciences, working in collaboration with Professor Paul Moynagh from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, has discovered a synthetic chemical compound which inhibits the pro-inflammatory signals produced by the immune system in MS. What makes this chemical unique is that at the same time, it stimulates the body to produce interferon-beta, an anti-inflammatory molecule, that is commonly given to patients as an injected drug to treat MS.
Together, these effects cause significant reduction in the severity of an animal model of MS. The researchers have also discovered that cells of the immune system obtained from the blood of people with MS are more sensitive to the effects of this drug than those obtained from people who do not have MS.
Dr Gran said: “Under laboratory conditions we have found a way of encouraging the body to produce its own Interferon-beta. When other experimental substances have been tested in the laboratory to achieve this effect, they usually cause the immune system to produce a mixture of anti-inflammatory as well as pro-inflammatory molecules, typically reducing the overall efficacy. In the case of the compound tested in this study (a synthetic cannabinoid known as R(+)WIN55,212-2), the predominantly anti-inflammatory effects appear promising for further pre-clinical, and hopefully clinical, testing.
(Excerpt) Read more at nottingham.ac.uk ...
Ping
Thanks. Just sent this to my DIL to share with her neurologist. Too bad it’s still just in the lab.
That's true of most these medical stories. You can just hope that something useable comes out of it and soon.
a synthetic cannabinoid known as R(+)WIN55,212-2 otherwise known as “pot”
Not “pot”...there are lots of cannabinoids, pot being Tetrahydrocannabinol...but it might explain why MS patients who use pot have good success with it.
Thanks for posting this. It’s amazing the breakthroughs that have taken place in the last 18 years. Unfortunately I’m on my 5th drug and so far nothings seems to work very well. Maybe this one will do something (if it pans out)although it’ll be another 5 years before it’s even close to being released in US.
I have MS too. I’ve been fortunate to have Betaseron be pretty effective (I’ve been on it about 8 years.) I’d love to quit, because I still get side effects, but I’m afraid to. Didn’t stop the MonSter completely though...have had steady progression the latest addition is a Baclofen pump (which I must say, is amazing.)
Have you tried Gilenya? I’ve read some about it, but haven’t heard too much one way or the other about how it’s working for folks.
Here’s hoping....
I started Gilenya last week. I was actually on the last study for it (Fingolimod) for 2 years but got booted just as I was going in to the long term study (and that was 2 years ago). Part of the monitoring protocol was to look for skin issues. I was diagnosed with a Basal Cell skin cancer so that disqualified me. I’m of Irish decent and very fair skinned so expected some form of skin cancer at some point any way.
I did have fewer relapses on it but was at a much higher dose than what has been approved so we’ll see how this turns out. I’m just happy to have an oral drug versus injectable for a change.
Wish I could get treated today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
decimon, there's nothing at the source except a title.
I still see the full article.
CYM
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