Pioneering study Plant peptides can stop MS progression

Occurrence of MS symptoms and further relapses by plant peptide preventable?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, and despite some progress over the past decades, treatment options remain extremely limited. However, scientists at MedUni Vienna were able to stop the course of the disease with the help of a special plant peptide. In the animal model, the single oral administration of the plant peptide prevented the onset of further episodes of disease, MedUni Vienna reports on the results of the research.

Thus, the team led by Christian Gruber, head of the research group at the Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, together with international partners from Australia, Germany and Sweden, could have achieved an outstanding development in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, according to the MedUni Vienna. In the animal model, treatment with a special synthetic plant peptide (cyclotide) prevented the development of other common clinical signs of multiple sclerosis. The course of the disease could therefore possibly be stopped with the help of the plant peptide. The researchers have published their study results in the journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" (PNAS).

Special plant petides may stop the destruction of nerve fibers in MS. (Image: ralwel / fotolia.com)

Affected 2.5 million people worldwide
In the chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system MS, autoreactive T cells destroy the insulating layers of the nerve fibers, which is accompanied by increasing neurological deficits. "The disease runs in spurts and is currently not curable," reports the MedUni Vienna. The onset of a thrust is defined by the appearance of new or reoccurring symptoms already known. The individual episodes are accompanied by an immediate or delayed, further deterioration of the state of health of those affected. Although the mechanisms of the disease are now relatively well researched, but the therapies developed so far, which should delay the course, sometimes show significant side effects in long-term therapy and their success remains limited. It is therefore urgently necessary for the world's approximately 2.5 million people with MS to receive new treatment options.

Realistic hope for an effective treatment
Given the current study results can be realistically hope to stop the disease at a very early stage or at least slow their development, the researchers report. "As soon as functional neurological deficits occur and the first disease-related changes in the central nervous system are visible in the MRI scan (note: Magnetic Resonance Imaging), the drug could be administered for basic therapy," explain Gruber and colleagues. The occurrence of MS symptoms was significantly reduced in the animal model by the oral administration of cyclotides. "The single oral dose of the drug has greatly improved the symptoms. There were no episodes of the disease. This could generally slow down the course of the disease significantly, "emphasizes Christian Gruber. According to the scientists, the time span between the attacks could be significantly extended in this way, or even an outbreak of the disease may even be completely prevented.

Plant peptides also effective in other autoimmune diseases?
According to MedUni Vienna, the special plant peptides are readily available and can be used orally. The cyclotides can be isolated from all major plant families (for example, coffee plants, cucurbits, but also grasses and nightshade plants) and therefore represent a versatile and large group of natural products, the researchers explain. In addition, the resulting drug can be taken orally, while the currently common MS therapies usually have to be administered intravenously. The mechanism of action of cyclotides was discovered three years ago by scientists from the MedUni Vienna in cooperation with the research team headed by Carsten Gründemann from the Institute of Environmental Medicine and Hospital Hygiene at the University Medical Center Freiburg. Through the plant peptides, the messenger interleukin-2 and thus the cell division of T cells can be suppressed. The latter act as "killer" or "helper" cells upon reaction of the human immune system and not only play a major role in the defense against pathogens but are also implicated in various autoimmune diseases. Accordingly, cyclotides may also "be used in other diseases characterized by an overactive, misdirected immune system, such as rheumatoid arthritis," according to the MedUni Vienna. (Fp)