Myelin Damage in Multiple Sclerosis

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Multiple Sclerosis

 

In-Depth From A.D.A.M. The Autoimmune Disease Process

 

Multiple sclerosis is referred to as an autoimmune disease. The

general theory for the development of MS is that a genetically damaged

immune system is unable to distinguish between virus proteins and the

body's own myelin and so produces antibodies that attack. In other

words, the body becomes allergic to itself, a condition known as

autoimmunity.

 

Autoimmunity may develop when the body's immune system is damaged by

genetic or environmental factors, or both, causing it to attack its

own tissues. In the case of MS, the immune system attacks the tissues

that make up myelin:

 

* Myelin is made from layers of cell membranes that are produced

in the brain and spinal cord by specialized cells called

oligodendrocytes. The destruction of this myelin sheath during the

disease process is the hallmark for multiple sclerosis.

* The myelin coat is distributed in segments along the axons, the

long filaments that carry electric impulses away from a nerve cell.

* The segments are separated from each other by tiny clusters

called nodes of Ranvier, which house channels for sodium ions. These

sodium ions are important for boosting the electrical charge required

to pass signals from one nerve to another.

* As the myelin insulation is destroyed, signals transmitted from

nerve cell to nerve cell throughout the central nervous system are

disrupted.

* Experts once believed that axons themselves were spared during

the disease process. Research, however, has shown that many are

severed in MS and, in fact, axon destruction appears to start at an

early stage in the disease and may be a major cause of its

irreversibility.

 

The body often makes corrective actions to offset the effects of the

nerve cell destruction:.............

 

See full article at:

http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/multiple-sclerosis/the-autoimmun\

e-disease-process.html

 

I was struck by the fact that there was no group for this topic which

is so important in autoimmune diseases. I have started a a discussion

group about Vaccine Induced Demyelination in Autism and Myelin Sheath

Protein Therapy for Autism, but anyone interested in this therapy is

welcome.

http://health.MyelinSheathProtein/?yguid=326496087

 

Thank you, DesertSkyNM

 

Zurama