Nerve cell defect contributes to multiple sclerosis

One question regarding the disease is why precursors of oligodendrocytes are still present in diseased areas of the brain of individuals with MS but do not develop into oligodendrocytes and produce the nerve cell sheath. However, Jin Nakahara and colleagues, at Keio University School of Medicine, Japan, have now provided insight into this issue through analysis of brain tissue from MS patients and rodent cell lines in vitro.

In the study, damaged nerve cells in diseased areas of the brain of individuals with MS were found to express high levels of the protein Contactin, which interacted with the protein Notch1 on precursors of oligodendrocytes. In normal tissues, this triggers a signaling pathway that induces the precursors to develop into oligodendrocytes. However, in the diseased areas of the brain of individuals with MS these signaling events did not occur normally. Specifically, a protein known as TIP30 was abnormally overexpressed, preventing a key signaling component (the Notch1 intracellular domain) from performing its function. The authors therefore conclude that this signaling defect contributes to the development of MS.

In an accompanying commentary, Celia Brosnan and Gareth R. John highlight the key aspects of the study and discuss the implications for our understanding of MS.