PLoS Genet: study reveals the root cause of multiple sclerosis

June 12, 2019 / bioun / - an international research team led by the University of British Columbia has made a scientific progress, which they hope will lead to the development of prevention and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) In a study published in the journal PLoS Genetics, the researchers found that mutations in 12 genes were thought to contribute to the development of multiple sclerosis in families diagnosed with multiple sclerosis Source: http://cn.bing.com "these genes are like lighthouses, illuminating the root cause of multiple sclerosis," said Carles vilari, lead author of the study, assistant professor of medical genetics at Columbia University School of medicine and Michael Smith scholar? O-g ü ell said Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the central nervous system Cells from the immune system attack and destroy the protective sheath of nerve cells This disease often leads to disability and can have a significant impact on the quality of life In this study, the researchers sequenced all the known genes of patients from 34 families who had three or more members of the disease and examined the genetic variation of all members By looking at the genes of 132 patients, they found 12 mutations that can cause the overactive autoimmune system to attack the myelin sheath, the barrier around the brain and spinal cord nerves Only 13% of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis are thought to have the genetic form of the disease, but it is estimated that those found to have the mutation in the new study have an 85% lifetime risk of multiple sclerosis The goal of vilarino Guell is to develop cell and animal models with identified mutations to simulate the biological process leading to the onset of multiple sclerosis, and finally develop prevention and treatment methods for the disease "We have treatments for MS symptoms, but not for the cause People with multiple sclerosis can take drugs to reduce the onset of the disease, but the disease is still developing Now, with the knowledge of these mutations, we can try to find out the root cause These mutations reveal a common biological process that leads to increased inflammation in multiple sclerosis families "The researchers hope that these findings will one day bring personalized treatment to patients with multiple sclerosis and provide prevention strategies for those at higher risk Reference: Carles vilari? o-Güell et al， Exome sequencing in multiple sclerosis families identifies 12 candidate genes and nominates biological pathways for the genesis of disease， PLOS Genetics (2019)  DOI： 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008180