Making Connections

MSIF News


	Summaries of new MSIF activities, events, projects, programmes, resources, publications and more.

MS and work - support our survey and petition

Please help promote MSIF’s survey and petition on the subject of MS and work. Both are available in seven languages, and will be used to support campaigning on World MS Day 2011.

MS Conference at Arab Health Congress

The 2011 Arab Health Congress which took place from 24-27 January in Dubai, UAE, was attended by people from more than 140 countries including MSIF's Head of International Development, Zoe Burr.

Professor René Marteau

We were sad to learn of the death of Professor René Marteau, former President of la Ligue contre la SEP (the French MS Society) and Professor of Neurology at the Salpêtrière and Saint Antoine Hospitals.

Research News


	Summaries of all the latest research findings on MS selected by a team based at the Institute of Neurology, London.

Suppression of neuroinflammation in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by glia maturation factor antibody

Glia maturation factor (GMF) has been show to mediate the production of proinflammatory cytokines in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). This study shows that immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide 35–55 (MOG35–55) causes an early onset and severe EAE, and demonstrates that neutralising GMF with four injections of anti-GMF antibody 5 to 11 days post induction of EAE in mice delayed the time of onset and significantly reduced the severity of EAE.

Histological examination of the brain and spinal cords of anti-GMF treated mice showed significantly reduced inflammation and demyelination compared to controls, suggesting an important role for GMF in MOG35-55 EAE.

authors: Zaheer S, Wu Y, Sahu SK, Zaheer A.

source: Brain Res. 2011 Feb 10;1373:230-9.

CYP4F Enzymes Are Responsible for the Elimination of Fingolimod (FTY720), a Novel Treatment of Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Researchers from Switzerland have demonstrated that CYP4F2 and possibly other members of the CYP4F subfamily of drug-metabolizing cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes are the major enzymes responsible for the ω-hydroxylation of fingolimod, the main elimination pathway of the drug in vivo.

The enzyme kinetics in human liver microsomes (HLM) in which ω-hydroxylation was the major metabolic pathway were characterized by a Michaelis-Menten affinity constant and only CYP4F2 (and to some extent CYP4F3B) produced metabolite profiles similar to those in HLM.

Ketoconazole, an inhibitor of CYP3A and CYP4F2, was an inhibitor of fingolimod metabolism in HLM and an antibody against CYP4F2 was able to inhibit the metabolism of fingolimod almost completely in HLM, whereas antibodies specific to CYP2D6, CYP2E1, and CYP3A4 did not show significant inhibition.

authors: Jin Y, Zollinger M, Borell H, Zimmerlin A, Patten CJ.

source: Drug Metab Dispos. 2011 Feb;39(2):191-8.

Incidence of Infusion-Associated Reactions with Rituximab for Treating Multiple Sclerosis: A Retrospective Analysis of Patients Treated at a US Centre

A Multiple Sclerosis centre in the USA, currently using the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody Rituximab off-label for treating multiple sclerosis, reports the incidence of adverse reactions.

A retrospective analysis of 70 patients infused with rituximab identified infusion-associated events in 25.7% of patients. Reactions were mild to moderate and most commonly occurred during the first infusion. The authors state that most patients were able to complete the infusion after appropriate treatment of the reaction was administered, and most patients went on to receive subsequent doses without any further reactions.

The authors conclude that although infusion associated reactions are common with rituximab many can be prevented with appropriate pre-medication.

authors: Brown BA, Torabi M.

source: Drug Saf. 2011 Feb 1;34(2):117-23.

MS News


	Summaries of MS news from websites around the world.

EM Cuba visits Spanish MS society

Margarita Ruiz Peraza and Maria Elena Moscoso, EM Cuba President and Secretary respectively, visited Barcelona, Spain, in December 2010 as part of the MSIF Twinning Programme between the Spanish Federation for the Fight Against MS (FELEM) and EM Cuba. José María Perelló, FELEM Treasurer and Patron of the Catalonian MS Foundation (FEM) hosted the visit.

Raising MS awareness with art, food and sport

MS societies are using art, food and sport to raise awareness and funds.

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