Extinguishing Fires in the Brains of MS Patients
Scientists now know the cells involved in driving MS’ uncontrolled inflammation
A closer look at the brains of patients with aggressive, debilitating forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) reveals some striking features. Among them, the presence of “smoldering” inflammatory hotspots. After intense scrutiny, neuroscientists have finally nailed down the cells that drive these regions of heightened inflammation, findings that lay the groundwork for next-generation therapies to treat progressive MS.
Previously, neural immune cells called microglia were thought to be responsible for initiating and expanding these neural lesions. Microglia are dispersed throughout the brain and spinal cord are among the core protectors of the central nervous system, removing damaged cells and resisting infections. However, in MS patients, microglia go into overdrive, churning out a cocktail of inflammatory factors that devastate surrounding neural tissues. However, the other cells that may be contributing to this uncontrolled inflammation have remained elusive.
Fortunately, single-cell RNA sequencing technology is helping to shed light on these long-standing mysteries, empowering scientists with the ability to collect data on gene activity signatures within individual cells. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health’s National…
