Background: The production of immunoglobulin by B cells and plasma cells within the brain and spical cord is a major biological feature of MS. Studies have suggested a primary role of the B cell and immunoglobulin response in causing irreversible brain damage.
Objective: To evaluate whether, in the early phases of MS, immunoglobulin synthesis within the nervous system correlates with the presence of cortical lesions and if their association could predict the clinical course of MS.
Methods: 86 patients presenting with symptoms and signs suggestive of MS underwent a diagnostic work-up that included MRI and cerebrospinal fluid examination.
Results: MS'ers with clinically isolated syndromes (CIS) having cortical lesions and nervous system synthesis of immunoglobulin had a 3.4x greater risk of conversion to MS; whereas CIS patients without cortical lesions and immunoglobulin had the lowest risk of conversion to MS (0.1X).
Conclusion: The investigators observed that the association of nervous system immunoglobulin synthesis and cortical lesions was highly predictive of an earlier CIS conversion to MS as well as of a higher disease activity.
"This study supports pathological studies that B cell activity within the nervous system correlates with cortical disease or superficial gray matter pathology. Another reason to target B cells to try and prevent progressive gray matter pathology and hopefully prevent or delay the acquisition of cognitive dysfunction in MS."
Background: Inflammation of the coverings layers of the brain and spinal cord, in the form of lymph node like structures, has been suggested to play an important role in the development of grey matter pathology in MS. ...
Grey Matter (5) & B Cells: Baminercept in SPMS. The immune system forms and maintains the ectopic B-cell follicles in the brain & spinal cord by producing a cocktail of immune messengers called cytokines. One of these ...
This study is also targeting the B cell within the central nervous system (CNS) in the hope of disrupting the ectopic B cell follicles and thereby trying to stop progressive cortical or grey matter disease progression. Rituximab is a ...
Grey matter (4) - Meningeal B-cell follicles in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis associate with early onset of disease and severe cortical pathology. Magliozzi et al. Brain. 2007 Apr;130(Pt 4):1089-104. In MS the ...
Methods: In this study specialist MS pathologists analysed global brain involvement in MS focusing on the normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and the cortex (grey matter). Findings: (1) New and active focal inflammatory ...
"This and other studies show that grey matter involvement is there from the start. I use this as argument for aggressive early treatment. It is better to protect the brain, particularly the grey matter, than to compensate for the ...
In this study the investigators were able to relate cortical or grey matter lesions and tissue loss or atrophy to cognitive impairment in patients with RRMS. "This study adds to the growing body of evidence that grey matter ...
"Grey matter pathology is an increasing important area of MS research and an important target for both DMTs and symptomatic therapies. I am sure that grey matter pathology is responsible for the cognitive issues PwMS ...