Multiple sclerosis: Ultrastructural changes in brain tissue promote inflammatory processes (Mitochondria need help against free radicals)

Nerve cells that make up the gray matter in our brain allow us to perform different tasks. They are interconnected millions of times by nerve fibers running deeper in the brain, called axons. Many of these axons are wrapped by a cellular "insulating tape."

The insulating cover is made of myelin, a lipid-rich substance that coats axons in up to 150 layers. Together, axons and myelin form what is known as white matter. When a signal is transmitted from one cell to the other by means of an electrical nerve impulse, it literally jumps from one node to the next.

The white matter, however, is more than a well-sorted and optimally insulated "cable collection." It helps with various different processes in the brain, such as learning, memory, or social skills. If this tissue is damaged, diseases such as MS can develop. In MS, the myelin layer around the axons is damaged or destroyed.

Researchers have now discovered that the fine structure—called ultrastructure—of the seemingly normal white matter in MS patients is already altered, before the first foci of inflammation appear.

As the team showed, in the normal appearing white matter of MS patients, the myelin sheaths are conspicuously altered and the myelin is less compact. The nodes of Ranvier are also disorganized. In addition to these structural changes, the researchers found cellular markers for inflammation in the apparently normal tissue.

Last but not least, the density of mitochondria—the power generators of the cell—was strikingly increased in the processes of nerve cells, suggesting that communication between nerve cells requires more energy than in healthy people. Aletta van den Bosch explains: "Mitochondria not only produce vital energy, but also many by-products such as oxygen radicals. We suspect that these may increase myelin damage."

The article is interesting, but provides little opportunity to help until the end, where it’s said that mitochondria in MS nerve cells may increase myelin damage from oxygen or “free” radicals.

There appear to be three simple ways, described in prior studies I’ve posted, to help mitochondria quench free radicals throughout our bodies, as we age. One is on-the-spot, within the mitochondria, creation of glutathione a major body-made antioxidant. Studies have shown glycine and NAC (GlyNAC), in roughly equal amounts, helps to do just that. The second is via superoxide dismutase (SOD), also made in the cell, which can be greatly enhanced by adding taurine, at least 500 mg, three times a day. Finally, our cells all have an ion-channel reserved for routing one specific food antioxidant, ergothioneine, into mitochondria. Unfortunately, the main way our bodies get this is from mushrooms. Oyster and other non-button mushrooms have quite a bit more of this. If we aren’t eating mushrooms, we likely get little-to-none. It’s optional, though. Ergothioneine is now available in supplement form, as well, thankfully.

However, the devil is in the details, here. Glutathione and SOD only hold up a matter of hours against the mitochondrial free radicals before being used up. This is where ergothioneine is an amazing help. Due to the shape of ergothioneine and an innate ability for mitochondria to regenerate ergothioneine, the antioxidant lasts up to three to four weeks.

There is a fourth option called “MitoQ,” but it is a man-made molecule that lasts under a day, and may cause problems with kidney cells, according to a study. It’s also a more expensive supplement.

None of this would reverse MS, but, if the comment from the study about mitochondria holds true, these items could reduce a key form of ongoing damage.

The nice thing is that these are easy to supplement, which is important for older people, as we somehow stop producing enough conditional amino acids (glycine, cysteine, and taurine (from cysteine)) to properly protect our bodies.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.