In a groundbreaking study conducted by UCLA Health, researchers have discovered a potential breakthrough in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) using the pregnancy hormone estriol. MS is a debilitating condition characterized by inflammation that leads to the breakdown of myelin, a protective layer surrounding nerve fibers in the cerebral cortex. This breakdown impairs the transmission of electrical signals to and from the brain, resulting in a range of symptoms such as cognitive impairment, visual impairment, and weakness. Currently, no available treatment can repair the damage to myelin, but the new findings suggest that estriol may have the potential to reverse the damage caused by MS.
Previous research led by UCLA has already shown that estriol, a type of estrogen hormone produced during pregnancy, can reduce brain atrophy and improve cognitive function in MS patients. Now, the researchers have taken their investigation a step further by treating a mouse model of MS with estriol. The results were promising, as the hormone not only prevented brain atrophy but also stimulated the remyelination process in the cortex.
This groundbreaking study is the first of its kind to identify a potential treatment that can repair myelin in the cerebral cortex, offering hope for individuals suffering from MS. Allan MacKenzie-Graham, an associate professor of neurology and the corresponding author of the study, emphasized the significance of these findings in advancing our understanding of MS and potentially developing new treatment options.
Understanding Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a complex autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, particularly the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective myelin sheath that covers nerve fibers, causing inflammation and damage. The exact cause of MS remains unknown, but it is believed to result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Common symptoms of MS include fatigue, difficulty walking, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness, problems with coordination and balance, cognitive impairment, and visual disturbances. The severity and progression of symptoms can vary widely among individuals, making MS a highly unpredictable and challenging condition to manage.
The Role of Estriol in MS Treatment
Estriol, one of the three types of estrogen hormones produced in the human body, has long been recognized for its role in supporting a healthy pregnancy. However, recent research has revealed its potential therapeutic effects in treating MS. The study conducted by UCLA Health adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that estriol may hold the key to reversing myelin damage in the cerebral cortex.
While current treatments for MS focus on managing inflammation and symptom flare-ups, they do not address the underlying cause of the disease—the breakdown of myelin. Estriol, on the other hand, has shown the ability to promote remyelination, the process of repairing damaged myelin. By stimulating this regenerative process, estriol offers the exciting possibility of repairing the damage caused by MS and potentially mitigating the progression of the disease.
However, it is important to note that more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms by which estriol restores myelin and to determine the most effective dosage and treatment regimen for MS patients. Clinical trials involving human subjects are currently underway to further investigate estriol’s potential as a viable treatment option.
Hope for the Future
The findings from the UCLA Health study provide a glimmer of hope for the millions of individuals worldwide who are affected by multiple sclerosis. The potential of estriol to repair myelin damage in the cerebral cortex could revolutionize treatment approaches and improve the quality of life for MS patients.
While the road to widespread adoption of estriol as a therapeutic intervention for MS may still be far off, this groundbreaking research lays the foundation for further exploration and the development of novel treatments. The researchers at UCLA are committed to advancing our understanding of MS and finding new ways to combat this debilitating disease.
Summary:
A recent study conducted by UCLA Health has discovered that the pregnancy hormone estriol may hold the key to reversing myelin damage in the cerebral cortex, a key region affected in multiple sclerosis (MS). In MS, the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective myelin sheath, causing inflammation and impairing the transmission of electrical signals to and from the brain. Estriol has shown the potential to prevent brain atrophy and stimulate the remyelination process in the cortex, offering hope for repairing the damage caused by MS. However, further research is needed to fully understand estriol’s mechanisms and determine the most effective treatment regimen. This groundbreaking study opens up new possibilities for the development of innovative therapies for MS patients, providing hope for a brighter future.
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Treatment of a mouse model of multiple sclerosis with the pregnancy hormone estriol reversed the breakdown of myelin in the cerebral cortex, a key region affected in multiple sclerosis, according to a new UCLA Health study.
In multiple sclerosis, inflammation stimulates the immune system to remove the protective layer of myelin that surrounds nerve fibers in the cerebral cortex, making it difficult for electrical signals to be sent and received by the brain. Cortical atrophy in MS patients is associated with permanent worsening of disability, such as cognitive impairment, visual impairment, weakness, and sensory loss.
No currently available treatment for MS can repair the damage to myelin. Instead, these treatments target inflammation to reduce symptom flare-ups and scarring of new nerve tissue. Previous UCLA-led research found that estriol, a type of estrogen hormone produced in pregnancy, reduces brain atrophy and improves cognitive function in MS patients.
In the new study, the researchers treated a mouse model of MS with estriol and found that it prevented brain atrophy and induced remyelination in the cortex, indicating that the treatment may repair the damage caused by MS, rather than just delay the destruction of myelin.
This is the first study to identify a treatment that could repair myelin in the cortex, undoing some of the damage caused by MS.
Allan MacKenzie-Graham, an associate professor of neurology, is the corresponding author of the study. Other authors include Cassandra Meyer, Andrew Smith, Aitana A. Padilla-Requerey, Vista Farkhondeh, Noriko Itoh, Yuichiro Itoh, Josephine Gao, Patrick Herbig, Quynhanh Nguyen, Katelyn Ngo, Mandavi Oberoi, Prabha Siddarth, and Rhonda R. Voskuhl, all UCLA.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230615183107.htm
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