In this review the differences in pathology and disease mechanisms between early and late stages of multiple sclerosis
are discussed. The data suggest that affection of the brain is
different, depending on the location of lesions, on the stage of the
disease, when lesions arise, and on inter-individual differences between
patients. We suggest that in the early stage of the disease new lesions
are formed by new waves of inflammatory cells, entering the central
nervous system from the circulation and giving rise to focal
demyelinated plaques in the white and gray matter. In contrast, at late
stages of the disease inflammation decreases, but the susceptibility of
the target tissue for neurodegeneration increases. New data suggest that
mitochondrial injury, mediated through oxidative injury, is in the
center of the pathogenetic events leading to brain damage in multiple sclerosis patients.
As part of the International Progressive MS Collaborative it is clear that understanding the cause and pathology of progression is a central part of the problem, when you try to think about trying to model and treat it.
Therefore, it is timely that Prof Lassmann from Vienna has focussed his ideas.
If you are a Pathologist reading this post..It is time for others to focus their ideas too.
Will they all agree?.......Can you herd cats?
Team G are on the mitochondrial trail already in more ways that one.