In a twin study, researchers led by the University of Zurich discovered inflammatory markers that are probably responsible for the disease-related immune changes in multiple sclerosis. They report regarding it in the specialist magazine Nature.
Multiple sclerosis is the most common inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. It is assumed that 2.5 million people are affected worldwide. A combination of genetic risk factors and environmental factors such as vitamin D deficiency, smoking, shift work, infectious or comorbidities is considered to be the reason for the onset of the autoimmune disease.
Miscommunication in the immune system
The team led by Burkhard Becher, Professor at the Institute for Experimental Immunology at the University of Zurich, has now carried out “immune profiling” on 61 pairs of identical twins, of which one twin each had MS. Since identical twins do not differ genetically, the influence of genes might be completely excluded.
As the researchers report, they were able to identify a clear signal for disease-related immune changes in the blood samples: in the twins with MS, the level of certain communication molecules in immune cells was significantly increased – the higher, the greater the severity of the disease.
These are “virgin” or almost “naïve” T helper cells that are in transition to activated helper cells and in which dysregulation has been observed. This dysregulation – or miscommunication in the immune system – leads to an excessive inflammatory response in the body. It is possible that the cellular big bang of MS was discovered with these poorly differentiated T helper cells, Becher was quoted as saying in a statement from his university.
The environmental factors driving the development of MS in the affected twins cannot be derived directly from the study. Further studies are needed for this, said Becher. Nevertheless, he describes the results as a giant step towards better understanding the development of multiple sclerosis: “We were able to collect countless data from a unique study group, which now also serve as the basis for research into new therapies.”
He also hopes that the T cells that have now been identified and possibly other immune signatures might one day be used as biomarkers to diagnose the disease at an early stage at the first sign of numbness or symptoms of paralysis. Because the earlier MS is detected, the better it can be treated.