Blood-clotting protein may offer early detection of MS

[MSUK]

A protein involved in blood clotting may be a new indicator to help detect multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions before symptoms arise. The presence of the clotting protein, thrombin, signals an early stage of the disease when the blood-brain barrier is breached and the brain’s immune response is set into motion. The research was presented at Neuroscience 2013, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world’s largest source of emerging news about brain science and health........ Read More - http://www.ms-uk.org/biomarkersandmicroRNA

[NHE]

The researchers found that thrombin, usually a beneficial protein involved in blood clotting, builds up in the central nervous system as MS progresses. Thrombin enters in the brain together with fibrinogen, another clotting protein when the protective barrier between the blood and brain becomes leaky. Thrombin converts the fibrinogen to fibrin which activates brain’s immune cells that break down the protective myelin sheath that surrounds neurons in the central nervous system. Because thrombin levels increase as the disease progresses, the researchers conclude that it could be used as an early detector of the disease.

This research seems to support the hypothesis that MS is not autoimmune and that the oligodendrocytes, which produce myelin, are just getting caught in the crossfire as the immune system tries to clear out fibrin.

[cheerleader]

This research seems to support the hypothesis that MS is not autoimmune and that the oligodendrocytes, which produce myelin, are just getting caught in the crossfire as the immune system tries to clear out fibrin.

Sure looks that way. This research confirms observations by the NIH last year--

NIH researchers find that fibrinogen appears to be "the trigger" which begins neurodegeneration in MS.
http://www.nih.gov/news/health/nov2012/ninds-27.htm

Researchers are honing in on fibrinogen as a mediator in vascular disease, and they are also finding a link in MS.
Fibrinogen is always present in the blood. The normal range is 200 - 400 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).
Fibrinogen is a protein which is made in our livers. It's the signaling protein for fibrin, which allows our blood to clot. When people develop venous ulcers on their legs, due to chronic venous insufficiency, it's fibrinogen that leaks from the veins and creates a build up of fibrin, depleting the tissue of oxygen and allowing those hallmark ulcers to form. This is called a "fibrin cuff." It's fibrinogen which initiates the coagulation cascade and causes our blood to thicken, as a response to low oxygen levels.

Dr. Zamboni was the first to suggest that MS lesions looked a lot like venous ulcers because of the fibrin cuffs found in both sites of injury.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1633548/

And researchers have noted that fibin deposition comes FIRST, before demyelination.

http://ccsviinms.blogspot.com/2012/11/w ... t-nov.html

cheer

[NHE]

This research seems to support the hypothesis that MS is not autoimmune and that the oligodendrocytes, which produce myelin, are just getting caught in the crossfire as the immune system tries to clear out fibrin.

Sure looks that way. This research confirms observations by the NIH last year--

It seems like one question that really needs to be answered is if there are any similar epitopes between fibrin and MBP, MOG or PLP?