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Advanced Neurology                                                   Multiple sclerosis: Immunopathogenesis



            necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), reactive oxygen species   proteins in brain tissue have been observed in autopsies
            (ROS), and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). This type   from MS-affected individuals . MS becomes a clinically
                                                                                       [45]
            of astrocyte reaction is thought to be an innate immune   progressive disease when the extent of lesions exceeds the
            response of the brain to various injuries .        neuroplasticity of the CNS and symptoms of disability
                                           [5]
                                                               begin to appear . These changes may explain why disease-
                                                                           [46]
              Mitochondrial  dysfunction  is  also  associated  with
            neuronal damage in MS. Mitochondria are highly     modifying treatments are effective in RRMS but not in PMS,
                                                               as treatment starts late, when neurodegeneration is already
            susceptible  to  ROS-induced  oxidative  damage.  The   pervasive and CNS functional reserve has diminished. This
            inflammatory process disrupts the movement of      is also confirmed by recent studies on the administration
            mitochondria from the soma to the axon due to kinesin   of the highly effective disease-modifying therapy, which
            dysfunction, and it has been revealed that stimulating   was started in the early stages of PMS when the patients
            mitochondrial supply from the soma into axons reduced   had reduced disability progression [5,47] . At the time of
            neuroaxonal damage [33,34] . Another study called attention   writing,  there  are  no  specific  guidelines  or  statistically
            to changes in motor proteins responsible for the movement   significant measurements that could be used to determine
            of mitochondria to axons and that neurons in deep cortical   progression of MS, although the search for reliable and
                                                        [35]
            layers  have  mitochondria  with  mtDNA  deletions .   objective measures of the progression of MS is ongoing .
                                                                                                           [48]
            Analyses of biomarkers in CSF have shown that CSF lactate   Early detection of SPMS has been sought through the use
            concentration is correlated with the rate of progression of   of algorithms and biomarkers . The expanded disability
                                                                                       [11]
            MS, reinforcing mitochondrial involvement in PPMS .   status scale (EDSS) score remains the primary measure
                                                        [36]
            Iron is an important component in the process of myelin   of clinical MS. Various imaging biomarkers are being
            formation by oligodendrocytes; it is first stored in ferritin   investigated to better detect and monitor the progression of
            and then in  the  myelin  sheath .  Iron metabolism  is   MS in the clinic . At present, new T2 and/or gadolinium
                                       [37]
                                                                            [49]
            susceptible to disruption by inflammation, resulting in   contrast of the lesions in conventional MRI is considered
            the release of iron from myelin and accumulation in the   the most important marker of clinical MS relapse.
            immediate environment, which in turn leads to iron-induced   Additional imaging biomarkers, such as leptomeningeal
            oxidative stress. Iron accumulation is a major feature of MS   contrast enhancement, newly highlighted SELs within
            and is associated with neuronal degeneration . Therefore,   the white matter, and T2 lesion volume, show strong
                                               [38]
            remyelination does not confer wide-scale protection   correlation  with  clinical  and/or  MRI  measures  of  MS
            when axon degeneration is already underway, but it   progression . SELs have been found to correlate with signs
                                                                        [11]
            supports and protects axons from further deterioration   of acute axonal injury in the environment . SELs occur
                                                                                                 [50]
            by providing supportive factors such as energy sources for   more frequently in PMS than in RRMS . It is important
                                                                                               [5]
            the production of ATP [39,40] . Demyelination is particularly   to note that another MRI study found that the corners of
            pronounced in SEL, indicating that chronic inflammation   SELs contain active microglia/macrophages, which often
            prevents remyelination, which in turn affects axonal   have iron deposition. However, a more recent study using
            survival . Studies conducted with PET have shown that   the TMEM119 marker, which is selective for microglia,
                  [41]
            patients with a higher potential for dynamic remyelination   showed that microglial cells predominate in SELs . Global
                                                                                                     [32]
            tend to have lower levels of clinical disability . The   brain atrophy, SELs, and inflammation mainly triggered by
                                                    [42]
            rate of myelin repair varies in patients depending on the   microglia/macrophages are the main pathological features
            presence of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and their   of PMS . At the edges of SELs, activated microglia are
                                                                     [5]
            ability to mature into oligodendrocytes . Remyelination-  involved in the failure of remyelination, which in turn
                                           [43]
            stimulating treatment may prove to be very effective, but   leads to additional destruction of adjacent neural tissue .
                                                                                                           [51]
            the consensus remains that therapies need to be initiated
                                                                 Offering simple and widespread accessibility as well as
            before neurodegeneration begins . In another study,   management and accurate diagnostic prospects, fluid-based
                                        [40]
            inflammation of neuronal tissue in mice and humans was   biomarkers are at the forefront of current research, boasting
            found to lead to induction and toxic accumulation of the   a huge potential in MS diagnosis. In a review, Kaisey et al.
            synaptic protein Bassoon (Bsn). Genetic disruption of Bsn   described a plethora of laboratory diagnostic biomarkers .
                                                                                                           [52]
            and pharmacological proteosome activation has resulted   Oligoclonal bands in CSF are an important biomarker
            in improved clearance of Bsn deposits and increased   based on the McDonald diagnostic criteria but have limited
            neuronal survival .
                          [44]
                                                                                                           [12]
                                                               utility as a marker of progression in RRMS and SPMS .
              Misfolding of cellular prion proteins has been cited   Some cytoskeletal proteins, discovery of neurofilament
            as one of the factors contributing to neurodegeneration.   light chains (NfL), glial fibrillary acid protein, and kappa-
            In addition, citrullination and disruption of myelin   free light chains (κFLC) were considered potential sensitive
            Volume 2 Issue 3 (2023)                         4                         https://doi.org/10.36922/an.1319
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