British scientists have been long working with galanin, a brain protein that has been found carries some resistance to Multiple Sclerosis. According to the source:

Professor David Wynick, who works on the function of galanin, set up the project with a group of other scientists working on the development of a vaccine for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

He said: “It has been known for some time that galanin plays a protective role in both the central and peripheral nerve systems – when a nerve is injured levels of galanin increase dramatically in an attempt to limit cell death.”

The team discovered that mice with high levels of galanin were completely resistant to the MS-like disease, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Transgenic mice that contained no galanin at all developed a more severe form of the disease.

Subsequent tests on human brain tissue affected by MS showed galanin to be specifically increased in MS lesions and shadow plaques, which are often seen in acute MS.

As many scientists continue to discover different pieces of the MS puzzle, this will be one bit of research to watch.

{BBC News}

Image Courtesy of The Franklin Institute