22 Apr , 18:13
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Increased immune system activity and hormonal characteristics of the body make women more vulnerable to multiple sclerosis. This was stated by Kimberly Bruce, an associate professor in the Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical School, in an interview with Medical Xpress (MedX).
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys myelin — the protective sheath of nerve fibers. As a result, signal transmission in the central nervous system is disrupted, which can lead to problems with vision, movement, cognitive functions, and bodily control.
"To find out why the disease strikes women significantly more often, we analyzed over 120 proteins in cerebrospinal fluid samples from female patients aged 30–49 with multiple sclerosis and compared the results with a control group of women suffering from headaches," the researcher explained.
Proteomic analysis revealed that patients with multiple sclerosis had notably elevated activity of proteins associated with brain immune cells — microglia and macrophages. At the same time, the activity of proteins responsible for normal neuron function and repair processes was, on the contrary, reduced.
As Bruce noted, immune cells in women tend to switch more easily into an inflammatory mode, which exacerbates nerve tissue damage.
The role of hormones occupied a special place in the study.
"It has been established that the level of the female sex hormone estrogen influences the behavior of immune cells and energy metabolism in tissues. In laboratory experiments, the addition of estrogen improved cell functioning; however, using the hormone itself in therapy is impossible due to serious side effects," the lead researcher clarified.
Currently, scientists are investigating exactly which protective mechanisms estrogen triggers, with the aim of eventually replicating them in treatment — without hormonal intervention.
