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Unlike RRMS, SPMS is less about inflammation and more about enlargement of lesions and axonal degeneration - leading to permanent disability.

The mechanisms driving SPMS are different to RRMS and treatments for RRMS are usually of little benefit for SPMS. The following research points to some possible culprits which could be targeted by treatments.

Ian

http://www.msif.org/en/research/researc ... xpres.html

Most of this article was way over my head. If anyone could bring it down to layman's terms, I would appreciate it.

Also. does anyone know how this conclusion from the article could be achieved?

" Targeting chemokines in SPMS may therefore be a powerful therapeutic approach to inhibit lesional expansion."

The main thing I came away with from reading the article is that there is a clear difference between RRMS and SPMS. Having been RRMS for 15 years and then SPMS for another 20 years, I know that the difference is marked and that different mechanisms are taking place in my body.

gwa

Dear GWA:
Using the glossary links at the bottom of the article, it seems that chemokines regulate the immune system response to the location of the lesion, and perhaps direct the different types of glial cells to clean up or target cells in the area.

So, if the chemokines are actually causing the cell death of some of the neurons, or somehow affecting the way the lesion is 'healed', perhaps the authors mean that being able to control or suppress the activity of the chemokines could minimize the damage to the nerve cells.

That is what it looks like to me, but I am just an artist; so maybe someone who has medical training could elucidate further? At least you could start by dissecting this message!
Thanks,
Ronnie
(good to see you back, Ian)

oo

Bob,

I didn't leave the fold - just went to Florida on holiday for two weeks.

Ronnie,

Your explanation is my interpretation. I have given up trying to understand all the terms that are used. There are baddies and goodies and some that seem to be both (like inflammation).

GWA,

I think the research shows how very complex this disease is. There appears to be a cascade of events which drives this disease and which change over time. As I sat in London Gatwick Airport on 3 August, I bought a newspaper and the medical page focussed on MS. The doctor wrote:

Although the first case of MS was first described in the 14th century and it was recognised as a disease 150 years ago, research is still discovering new aspects of its causation.

Fortunately, our knowledge about MS, and of new treatments that have the potential to revolutionise the outlook for patients, is growing rapidly.

I think the second part really sums up the position we are currently in and is demonstrated by the research on SPMS. More research is bound to be showcased at the ECTRIMS and ACTRIMS conferences which take place in late September and early October.


Ian

I am glad to know that some of these articles are over your head too. I thought I was just DUMB! I try to learn and keep up, but sometimes you read the stuff 4 or 5 times and still say WHAT?

Dear Amelia,
Yeah, I feel dumb a lot of the time also, but really, I think we just don't give ourselves credit for how much we DO understand, if not outright, at least on some INTUITIVE level. And sometimes, just getting a bare gist of the matter is what we need anyway, since we aren't the ones who are in the clean room trying to titrate some bio-sample; but we just need to know what direction is promising in the research.

So, if they want to monkey with my chemokines, fine with me, as long as my neurologist thinks it would be a good idea.
Love,
Ronnie