Multiple sclerosis and prions.
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.
Wojtowicz
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Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202.
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
D011328:Prions