title: Multiple sclerosis and prions.
abstract: The etiology of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is unknown. Existing epidemiologic data suggests that MS can be an infectious disease. MS used to be classified as one of the 'slow infections'--many of these are caused by prions. Prions are small, proteinaceous, infectious particles--distinguished from viruses by the absence of intrinsic nucleic acids. In a contrast to the 'classic' prional diseases (Kuru, Scrapie or Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease) that in CNS affect primarily neurons, the 'target' cell in MS is an oligodendrocyte. This may explain differences in disease presentation. This paper presents a pathophysiological model of MS based on the assumption that MS is a prional disease. Processes leading to the demyelination in Multiple Sclerosis seem also to involve lymphocytes, astrocytes and macrophages as well as the interferon system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wojtowicz
mesh_terms: D005814:Genes, Viral; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology*; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D011328:Prions / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D011328:Prions