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MS in focus 14 now available in Spanish, French, German and Italian

source: MSIF

MS in focus 14, on Disease courses in MS, is now available for download in four more languages.

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New MS in focus Editorial Board meet in London

source: MSIF

The new Editorial Board of MSIF’s biannual magazine MS in focus met in London from 30 November to 1 December 2009.

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MSIF CEO attends Sobek research prize ceremony and EMSP board meeting in Germany

source: MSIF

On 27 November 2009 MSIF CEO, Peer Baneke, travelled to Stuttgart, Germany, to attend the award ceremony for the Sobek research prize and the European MS Platform (EMSP) board meeting.

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Profile of the Month : January 2010

Aida Alić

Country: Bosnia, living in Germany
Age: 32
Type of MS: Relapsing-remitting
Year of Diagnosis: 2000


"It was difficult to battle against people’s ignorance about MS, people said "well, if she has problems with her legs, she can work sitting down," and "I’ve heard MS is infectious."

Deutsch English French Italiano Русский

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Substantial early, but nonprogressive neuronal loss in multiple sclerosis (MS) spinal cord

In this postmortem study the authors examined the spinal cord tissue of people with MS. They found evidence for substantial, non-progressive neuronal loss on the cervical and lumbar levels early in the disease course of MS. Moreover, their results suggest that neuronal damage and regeneration could be an early response to lesion formation.

authors: Schirmer L, Albert M, Buss A, Schulz-Schaeffer WJ, Antel JP, Brück W, Stadelmann C

source: Ann Neurol. 2009 Jul 13;66(5):698-704

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Neuromyelitis optica: pathogenicity of patient immunoglobulin in vivo

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system similar to MS which predominantly affects the spinal cord and the optic nerve. The presence of serum autoantibodies against the water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) are considered a diagnostic hallmark of this disease, although their pathogenic value (their ability to cause a specific tissue damage in the central nervous system) is still a matter of controversy. The authors of this study found that, in experimental animal models of NMO, human anti-AQP-4 antibodies increased clinical disease and induced NMO-like lesions. Therefore, the results suggest that human anti-AQP-4 antibodies are not only important in the diagnosis of NMO but are also pathogenic.

authors: Bradl M, Misu T, Takahashi T, Watanabe M, Mader S, Reindl M, Adzemovic M, Bauer J, Berger T, Fujihara K, Itoyama Y, Lassmann H

source: Ann Neurol. 2009 Aug 21;66(5):630-643

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Initiation and progression of axonopathy in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

It is known that axonal loss is the principal cause of chronic disability in MS and also in animal models of MS. However, it is not known yet why this axonal loss occurs and to what extent this is dependent on underlying inflammatory processes occurring in the central nervous system (CNS). The results of this study, which used an animal model of MS, suggest that interactions of systemic inflammatory cells (including direct contact-dependent and non contact-dependent interactions) with axons, as well as the presence of an immune-mediated neurodegenerative process, contribute to axonal loss.

authors: Soulika AM, Lee E, McCauley E, Miers L, Bannerman P, Pleasure D

source: J Neurosci. 2009 Nov 25;29(47):14965-79

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Phenotypical and functional characterization of T helper 17 cells in multiple sclerosis

In MS it is well known that there are some abnormal immune system reactions against the central nervous system (CNS) tissue which provoke inflammatory reactions. It is believed that amongst the immune cells which are involved in this process, the T cells play a major role. More recently it has been shown that a subset of T cells called T helper 17 cells (Th17 cells) are of special importance, though whether Th17 cells promote specific damaging reactions in the CNS of people with MS and, if so, how these reactions occur, is still unknown. The results of this study suggest that Th17 cells display a high pathogenic potential and would definitely be liable for damage in the CNS of people with MS.

authors: Brucklacher-Waldert V, Stuerner K, Kolster M, Wolthausen J, Tolosa

source: Brain. 2009 Nov 23

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ENS issue call for abstracts for 2010 Meeting

source: European Neurological Society

The Scientific Committee of the European Neurological Society (ENS) has issued a call for abstracts for their 2010 Meeting, June 19-23, Berlin, Germany. The deadline for abstract submission is 3 February 2010.

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Approval for oral cladribine delayed by FDA

source: US National MS Society

EMD Serono announced that it has received a "refuse to file" letter from the US Food and Drug Administration for an application requesting approval of cladribine tablets for the treatment of relapsing MS.

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