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 | Research: Component of a Virus (Synctin) Linked to Multiple Sclerosis |
 In yet another volley for the recently reinvigorated infectious model of Multiple Sclerosis, a new study has found a component of an ancient virus is found in MS brains at a 3 times higher rate than that of controls. Furthermore, this virus protein is known to antagonize the immune system...
"Syncytin, a virus protein that has been around for millions of years, may play a role in the nerve damage that occurs with multiple sclerosis (MS), scientists report in the journal Nature Neuroscience...
Syncytin is present in the brain tissue of patients with MS at levels about three times higher than in healthy brain tissue. They also found that syncytin stimulates the production of various inflammatory chemicals.
Ferulic acid, a readily-available supplement, counters synctin. Interestingly enough, ferulic acid is said to weakly mimic curcumin, which has been shown to be beneficial to MS but is difficult to absorb.
However, before you rush out to buy Ferulic acid, remember the golden rule: Every supplement or medicine has its own side effects, and to date there has been no research proving ferulic acid is safe in HUMAN forms of MS. Always consult your doctor! In any case, research on treatments that are readily available is always promising.
Click "read more" for the full article.
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Full Article Text
Ancient Virus Protein Linked to Multiple Sclerosis
Mon Sep 27, 2004 06:21 PM ET
By Karla Gale
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Syncytin, a virus protein that has been around for millions of years, may play a role in the nerve damage that occurs with multiple sclerosis (MS), scientists report in the journal Nature Neuroscience. This finding could lead to new treatments for the devastating neurologic disease.
Syncytin "can activate immune mechanisms, which can ultimately damage cells that make myelin," an important nerve covering that gradually disappears in patients with MS, senior author Dr. Christopher Power, at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, told Reuters Health.
Power and his international research team found that syncytin is present in the brain tissue of patients with MS at levels about three times higher than in healthy brain tissue. They also found that syncytin stimulates the production of various inflammatory chemicals.
By introducing the gene for syncytin into mice, the researchers were able to create animals that had symptoms commonly seen in humans with MS, such as weakness and unsteady gait. The symptoms and tissue changes were reversed when the mice were treated with a chemical called ferulic acid.
Power noted that ferulic acid was well tolerated by the animals, and said he hopes to further explore its potential as a therapeutic agent in patients with MS.
Other drugs currently being tested may be found to have an effect on syncytin, Dr. Mark P. Mattson and Dr. Dennis D. Taub of the National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, remark in a related editorial.
But it will be important to know what other tissues are affected by syncytin, they add, because critical functions could be compromised by treatments aimed at syncytin.
SOURCE: Nature Neuroscience, 2004.
© Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.
Source: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=6346673
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Re: Component of a Virus (Synctin) Linked to Multiple Sclerosis (Score: 1)
by adjanimals on Wednesday, September 29 @ 13:16:54 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | I like the comment at the end.
"However, before you rush out to buy Ferulic acid, remember the golden rule: Every supplement or medicine has its own side effects, and to date there has been no research proving ferulic acid is safe in HUMAN forms of MS."
Then why waste time pumping it into mice.
I know we have to be safe before humans can try it. But if it doesn't kill the mice upfront, I'm sure 1 of the 400,000 or so with MS in the states would be willing to try.
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Re: Component of a Virus (Synctin) Linked to Multiple Sclerosis (Score: 1)
by sunnydelilah on Friday, October 22 @ 22:24:52 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | | My nerves are a lot calmer from using the ferulic acid. My thanks go out to those mice. If one waits until they study some of these things, I will be long dead and gone. |
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Re: Component of a Virus (Synctin) Linked to Multiple Sclerosis (Score: 1)
by trenee on Saturday, January 28 @ 19:15:18 EST
(User Info | Send a Message) | | After one contracts MS is it not probable that these viruses are able to live in the body that has a defective immune system and not before? My prior life befor being ill, was very healthy. I was never sick before MS intrusively decided to live with me.
I would suspect many of the reserch findings use the tissues, brains and other physical parts of people with MS and compare to those that do not. The herpes virus was never in my life and I have MS.
It is my belief that all of the "causes" are what the ms tissue being disected is showing. In the carbon monoxide multiple sclerosis research they used healthy tissue and exposed it to different elements. The carbon monoxide reaction was the toxin that resulted in an autoimmune illness triggeing agent. The environmental ingredient to the ms factor.
Reverse research was exercised at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (oldest school in the country). It is my opinion that we would be closer to a cure as that specific research finding gave way to the knowledge of treating the cause before the autoimmune illness was able to be triggered. |
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