Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, Treatments and Holistic Care of Multiple Sclerosis

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 6572

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Departamento de Enfermería, Fisioterapia y Medicina, Universidad de Almería, Almería, Spain
Interests: neuropathic pain

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS, presents with progressive muscle destruction. Genetic and environmental factors determine its pathogenesis. Multitude of symptoms affecting physical and cognitive function as well as mood that generally results in a gradual accumulation of permanent disability in these patients, affecting every aspect of their lives.

In recent years, methods of diagnosis and differentiation of MS have developed at the clinical and molecular level. However, due to the great heterogeneity of the pathophysiological processes that occur in the onset and development of the disease, it is necessary to continue studying clinical and molecular tools that improve early diagnosis and help the management of the disease in clinical practice, as biomarkers, to improve prognosis and monitor response to treatment. Among these, molecules that have been increased in MS patients related to inflammatory processes, or molecules of an inflammatory nature whose levels are shown to decrease after some type of therapeutic intervention. may be of interest.

Regarding therapeutic advances, both pharmacological and physiotherapeutic therapies have been developed in recent years. The improvements obtained with certain nutritional interventions, and those obtained with the administration of antioxidants that improve the level of inflammation and oxidation, are especially interesting. Both strategies are aimed at improving energetic alterations at the mitochondrial level, acting as effective neuroprotectors for these patients.

The upcoming Special Issue will cover molecular mechanism of pathogenesis, diagnostics aspects, and interventions or tools to do possible the holistic care of patients with MS. So that, we invite researchers to submit original articles or state-of-the art reviews on these fields. All contributions will undergo a rapid, fair, and concise review process to minimize publication times.

Prof. Dr. María M. López-Rodríguez
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • multiple sclerosis
  • biomarkers
  • diet
  • inflammation
  • quality of life

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

9 pages, 793 KiB  
Article
Role of Haptoglobin as a Marker of Muscular Improvement in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis after Administration of Epigallocatechin Gallate and Increase of Beta-Hydroxybutyrate in the Blood: A Pilot Study
by Jose Enrique de la Rubia Ortí, Jose Luis Platero, María Benlloch, Lorena Franco-Martinez, Asta Tvarijonaviciute, Jesús Escribá-Alepuz and Sandra Sancho-Castillo
Biomolecules 2021, 11(5), 617; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11050617 - 21 Apr 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2884
Abstract
Here, we report on the role of haptoglobin (Hp), whose expression depends on the synthesis of interleukin 6 (IL-6), related to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), as a possible marker of muscle improvement achieved after treatment with the polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) [...] Read more.
Here, we report on the role of haptoglobin (Hp), whose expression depends on the synthesis of interleukin 6 (IL-6), related to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), as a possible marker of muscle improvement achieved after treatment with the polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and an increase in the ketone body beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in the blood. After 4 months of intervention with 27 MS patients, we observed that Hp does not significantly increase, alongside a significant decrease in IL-6 and a significant increase in muscle percentage. At the same time, Hp synthesis is considerably and positively correlated with IL-6 both before and after treatment; while this correlation occurs significantly reversed with muscle percentage before treatment, no correlation is evident after the intervention. These results seem to indicate that Hp could be a marker of muscle status and could be a diagnosis tool after therapeutic intervention in MS patients. Full article
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10 pages, 1003 KiB  
Article
Glatiramer Acetate Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis-Associated Fatigue—Beneficial Effects on Self-Assessment Scales But Not on Molecular Markers
by Oliver Neuhaus, Wolfgang Köhler, Florian Then Bergh, Wolfgang Kristoferitsch, Jürgen Faiss, Thorsten Rosenkranz, Dirk Reske, Robert Patejdl, Hans-Peter Hartung and Uwe K. Zettl
Biomolecules 2021, 11(3), 393; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11030393 - 7 Mar 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2829
Abstract
Although fatigue is a common symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS), its pathomechanisms are incompletely understood. Glatiramer acetate (GA), an immunomodulatory agent approved for treatment of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), possesses unique mechanisms of action and has been shown to exhibit beneficial effects on MS [...] Read more.
Although fatigue is a common symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS), its pathomechanisms are incompletely understood. Glatiramer acetate (GA), an immunomodulatory agent approved for treatment of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), possesses unique mechanisms of action and has been shown to exhibit beneficial effects on MS fatigue. The objective of this study was to correlate clinical, neuropsychological, and immunological parameters in RRMS patients with fatigue before and during treatment with GA. In a prospective, open-label, multicenter trial, 30 patients with RRMS and fatigue were treated with GA for 12 months. Inclusion criterion was the presence of fatigue as one of the most frequent and disabling symptoms. Before and during treatment, fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the MS-FSS, and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). In addition, fatigue and quality of life were assessed using the Visual Analog Scales (VAS). Laboratory assessments included screening of 188 parameters using real-time PCR microarrays followed by further analysis of several cytokines, chemokines, and neurotrophic factors. Fatigue self-assessments were completed in 25 patients. After 12 months of treatment with GA, 13 of these patients improved in all three scales (with the most prominent effects on the MFIS), whereas 5 patients had deteriorated. The remaining 7 patients exhibited inconsistent effects within the three scales. Fatigue and overall quality of life had improved, as assessed via VAS. Laboratory assessments revealed heterogeneous mRNA levels of cytokines, chemokines, and neurotrophic factors. In conclusion, we were not able to correlate clinical and molecular effects of GA in patients with RRMS and fatigue. Full article
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