Credit: UC Denver/Ars Technica
http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/10/drug-restores-cells-that-are-missing-in-ms-patients/ / Multiple sclerosis MS autoimmune disease immune system destroys myelin sheaths surround surrounding neurons nerve cell cells myelin sheaths sheath insulator insulation surrounding electrical electric wires wire enable neuron transmit electrical impulses specifically specific efficiently efficient cells oligodendrocytes make myelin adult adulthood people MS oligodendrocyte precursor cells OPCs OPC migrate site sites myelination problem precursor cells fail mature properly myelin producing cells failure promotes disease progression progress current approved therapies therapy immunosuppressants research scientist scientists researchers The Scripps Research Institute screen screened 100,000 structurally diverse molecules find induce OPCs maturing maturation mature researchers researcher identified compounds rodent OPCs mature oligodendrocytes Petri dish thyroid hormone several physiological effects unattractive therapeutic agent for MS compounds work have limited therapeutic potential off target off-target activities toxicity, poor brain exposure demonstrated lack in vivo efficacy compounds provided valuable positive controls experiment useful compounds compound most effective inducers OPC maturation drug called benztropine already available oral form approved treatment Parkinson’s disease researchers benztropine, confirmed oligodendrocytes mature maturity myelin dish neuron neurons analyse analyzed benztropine’s activity mouse model MS diminished diminish clinical severity acute remission phases disease eliminate elimination eliminating relapse phase model system, benztropine immunosuppressive drugs treat use associated with dose depend dose-dependent adverse neurological side effects cognitive changes blurred vision anorexia psychosis authorb lower dose when combined with other therapies Fingolimod immunosuppressant reduced relapse rate relapsing-remitting reminder relapse remitting multiple sclerosis by over half. But its use can lead to a dose-dependent bradycardia it slows slow heart rate researchers' mouse model combination suboptimal doses of this with benztropine yielded decrease in clinical severity combination drugs results standard therapeutic dose of Fingolimod side effects dose dependent dependency /
