pHERV-W envelope protein fuels microglial cell-dependent damage of myelinated axons in multiple sclerosis
Abstract
There is a broad repertoire of immunomodulatory drugs that effectively treat the inflammatory aspects of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). However, axonal degeneration, which occurs mainly in progressive MS, is still not understood and cannot be treated pharmaceutically. As it is the major factor contributing to clinical disability in MS, it represents an unmet clinical need. A recently completed phase IIb study has demonstrated that anti-pathogenic human endogenous retrovirus type W (pHERV-W) envelope protein (ENV) treatment results in a significant decrease of neurodegenerative brain atrophy in treated MS patients. For these results, the work presented here offers an explanation by demonstrating that, via myeloid cells, pHERV-W ENV directly harms axons.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- July 2019
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.1901283116
- Bibcode:
- 2019PNAS..11615216K