Making Connections

Research News


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

PETIR-001, a dual inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DP IV) and aminopeptidase N (APN), ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in SJL/J mice

The 'peptidase-targeted Immunoregulation' (PETIR™) therapy developed by this group in Germany selectively targets cellular peptidase enzymes thought to be important in T-cell activation.

In an assessment of the effect on animal model of MS, administration of PETIR-001 significantly delayed and decreased clinical signs of active EAE, when given intraperitoneally from day 15 to day 24 after induction of EAE. A similar therapeutic benefit was obtained after oral administration of PETIR-001 from day 12 to day 21 after disease induction. The authors suggest PETIR™ may represent a novel and efficient therapeutic approach in MS.

authors: Reinhold D, Bank U, Entz D, Goihl A, Stoye D, Wrenger S, Brocke S, Thielitz A, Stefin S, Nordhoff K, Heimburg A, Täger M, Ansorge S.

source: Biol Chem. 2011 Mar;392(3):233-7.

Cancer and multiple sclerosis in the era of disease-modifying treatments

Untreated patients with MS are generally thought to have a lower risk of cancer than the general population. The authors aimed to assess the effects of disease modifying therapy on cancer risk in patients with MS.

There was no increased risk of cancer among patients treated exclusively with Immunomodulatory drugs (Interferon beta-1a, -1b, and glatiramer acetate) but those treated with immunospressant treatments (azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone, mycophenolate mofetil, natalizumab, methotrexate, fingolimod, cladribine, and teriflunomide) showed an increased risk which was greater with duration of exposure (p<0.001).

The authors suggest knowledge of these results may influence the attitude of the medical profession with respect to the benefit to risk ratio when proposing DMT to MS patients.

authors: Lebrun C, Vermersch P, Brassat D, Defer G, Rumbach L, Clavelou P, Debouverie M, de Seze J, Wiertlevsky S, Heinzlef O, Tourbah A, Fromont A, Frenay M.

source: J Neurol. 2011 Feb 4. [Epub ahead of print]

Coronin 1-Mediated Naive T Cell Survival Is Essential for the Development of Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Coronin 1 is essential for maintenance of the naive T cell pool. The authors report that in coronin 1-deficient mice, immunization with myelin oligoglycoprotein (MOG(35-55)) peptide largely failed to induce EAE symptoms, despite normal mobilization of leukocyte subsets in the blood, as well as effector cytokine expression suggesting a role for coronin-1 in the development of EAE.

EAE induction was restored by transfer of wild-type CD4(+) T cells, suggesting that the observed resistance of coronin 1-deficient mice to EAE development is T cell intrinsic. The results reveal coronin 1 as a crucial modulator of EAE induction.

authors: Siegmund K, Zeis T, Kunz G, Rolink T, Schaeren-Wiemers N, Pieters J.

source: J Immunol. 2011 Feb 2. [Epub ahead of print]

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