New treatment method multiple sclerosis (MS)

New procedure for the early treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS)

07/06/2013

The University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) reports the development of a new procedure for the early treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). The treatment method developed at the Institute for Neuroimmunology and Clinical Multiple Sclerosis Research of UKE has now been successfully tested in a first clinical study. The results were presented by the team led by Professor Christoph Heesen in the renowned trade magazine „Science Translational Medicine“ released.

The aim of the new therapeutic approach is to switch off the disease-causing immune reactions in MS, explains UKE in its current press release. Significantly developed was the procedure for early treatment in MS by Professor Roland Martin, founder of the UKE Institute for Neuroimmunology, who has since moved to the University Hospital Zurich. The results of the first clinical trial are quite encouraging and a Phase II study is now to follow to investigate the actual effect of the procedure on the course of MS, the researchers report

Normalize immune response of T cells
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) in which the so-called T cells (special immune cells) are directed against the body's own tissue. The conventional treatment is usually based on an inhibition of the immune system or T cells. Influence „However, the currently approved therapies make the immune system non-specific, meaning that they not only inhibit T cells, but also vital ones healthy Proportions of the immune response“, reports the UKE. Here, the new method should bring about a significant improvement, since the therapies specifically target only the immune cells that trigger the disease. „The aim of the new method is to influence only those T cells that are directed against crucial target structures in the brain and spinal cord of MS patients“, explained Professor Martin.

Restore immune tolerance in MS
Those damaged by MS „targets“ are loud message from the UKE „Protein molecules of the insulating layer of the nerves, the myelin.“ In order to avoid an immune reaction or a fight by the T-cells, the special protein molecules (peptides) were connected in the novel treatment approach with blood cells of MS patients and re-injected. That way should „Processes are initiated that turn off the disease-causing immune mechanisms and restore immune tolerance to the CNS tissue“, reports the UKE. In a phase I study funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), nine MS patients were treated at the UKE using the new method, „to study the safety and tolerability of the new process, "says Professor Martin in the latest UKE press release.

Promising procedure for the treatment of MS
According to the comments of Professor Martin was the „Therapy was well tolerated by all patients and there were no safety concerns.“ The current study is the first evidence for the novel process, „that the autoimmune response specific to myelin peptides was reduced in patients with multiple sclerosis.“ Should the benefit of the therapy be confirmed in the upcoming investigations, „The method is considered a promising approach not only in the treatment of various autoimmune diseases, but also in transplantation medicine and allergic diseases“, so the conclusion in the press release of the UKE. (Fp)