Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nerves and spinal cord. The immune system of MS patients attacks the sheaths which insulate the nerve tracts and causes scars to form which are known as MS lesions. As the currently available drugs can only mitigate MS attacks, these lead to increasing deterioration and disability. This is a major problem, especially for patients with the progressive form of the disease, who respond little to existing medication. Such patients require treatments which enable the nerves to heal. Our research has shown that oncostatin M, a protein which is produced in the event of nerve damage, has considerable healing potential. In this study, we shall explain how exactly this happens by studying various nerve damage models to determine how oncostatin M contributes to the healing of lesions. By uncovering the cellular and molecular processes involved, our study may contribute to the development of new therapies for progressive MS.
This project is granted by the Belgian MS Liga.