First clues to the causes of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis, which affects 1 in 1,000 people, is frequently characterised by relapses associated with variable functional impairments including among others vision problems, impairment of locomotor functions or difficulties with speech. 

The UNIGE researchers selected two distinct pathogens that elicit a response from the immune system -- one viral and one bacterial -- which were then injected into healthy mice. 

The immunologists validated the link between TOX and multiple sclerosis in the experimental model by eliminating the expression of this DNA-binding factor in the CD8+ T lymphocytes of healthy mice. 

A step towards a better understanding of multiple sclerosis Following these analyses, the UNIGE researchers noted that TOX was also expressed in T cells present in multiple sclerosis lesions. 

Université de Genève. "First clues to the causes of multiple sclerosis: Researchers have identified a DNA-binding factor that plays a part in triggering this auto-immune disease with unknown causes." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 15 May 2018. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180515113625.htm>.

Journal Reference:

Nicolas Page, Bogna Klimek, Mathias De Roo, Karin Steinbach, Hadrien Soldati, Sylvain Lemeille, Ingrid Wagner, Mario Kreutzfeldt, Giovanni Di Liberto, Ilena Vincenti, Thomas Lingner, Gabriela Salinas, Wolfgang Brück, Mikael Simons, Rabih Murr, Jonathan Kaye, Dietmar Zehn, Daniel D. Pinschewer, Doron Merkler. Expression of the DNA-Binding Factor TOX Promotes the Encephalitogenic Potential of Microbe-Induced Autoreactive CD8 T Cells. Immunity, 2018; 48 (5): 937 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2018.04.005