Evidence of rogue protein found in MS

A rogue protein has been discovered in multiple sclerosis (MS), which could lead to a better understanding of the condition and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Previous research has shown that rogue proteins cause brain damage in other diseases of the brain such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

In the new study, scientists from the University of Surrey, University of Texas Medical Center and PrioCam Laboratories produced antibodies to combat the rogue proteins. They found they could recognise rogue proteins in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, as well as additional molecules associated with other neurodegenerative diseases.

The team then used the antibodies to find out whether rogue proteins were present in the brain tissue and spinal fluid of patients with MS. They concluded that the condition may be caused by a protein that permanently adopts a rogue state.

Dr Mourad Tayebi, from the University of Surrey, said: "Our discovery proposes a new and alternative way to conduct research into multiple sclerosis by, for the first time, identifying a clear link to other neurodegenerative diseases."

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