1: Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 2007 Apr 18; [Epub ahead of print]

Remyelination can be extensive in multiple sclerosis despite a long disease course.

Patani R, Balaratnam M, Vora A, Reynolds R.
Department of Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, UK MS Tissue Bank, Division of Neuroscience, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Hospital Campus, London, UK.

Experimental studies using models of multiple sclerosis (MS) indicate that rapid and extensive remyelination of inflammatory demyelinated lesions is not only possible, but is the normal situation. The presence of completely remyelinated MS lesions has been noted in numerous studies and routine limited sampling of post mortem MS material suggests that remyelination may be extensive in the early stages but eventually fails. However, visual macroscopic guided sampling tends to be biased towards chronic demyelinated lesions.

Here we have extensively sampled cerebral tissue from two MS cases to investigate the true extent of remyelination. Sections were cut from 185 cerebral tissue blocks and stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), luxol fast blue and cresyl fast violet (LFB/CFV) and anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, human leucocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) and 200 kDa neurofilament protein antibodies. Demyelinated areas were identified in 141 blocks, comprising both white matter (WMLs) and/or grey matter lesions.

In total, 168 WMLs were identified, 22% of which were shadow plaques, 73% were partially remyelinated and only 5% were completely demyelinated. The average extent of lesion remyelination for all WMLs investigated was 47%. Increased density of HLA-DR(+) macrophages and microglia at the lesion border correlated significantly with more extensive remyelination.

Results from this study of two patients with long standing disease suggest that remyelination in MS may be more extensive than previously thought.

PMID: 17442065 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_DocSum

That is great news, Wannabe, but what does it mean to us? I can feel in my own body, that some healing happened and some did not.

Unless they find a way to help with the remylination and halt the demylination, then it doesn't mean much, does it?

Oh well, as I keep saying, At least they're working on it. And I sure want to encourage that.

Thanks for the good news. Keep it coming.

Hi Sally.

I agree that this doesn't change our reality. But for me it changed my perception somewhat. Rather than thinking my body was working against me and hurting me, this reminded me that my body is really trying hard to fix the damage. It's not the enemy, it's working feverishly to try to repair as much as it can.

So I guess I feel more connected with my body knowing that it IS working to make me as complete as possible... it DOES understand the damage and hasn't lost the ability to try to fix it. It's remyelinating as fast as it can to try to overcome the damage that's going on.

It's not a miracle cure but I felt good to know that my body was on my side too. Don't worry, if I find the study that cures this, I will have an even BIGGER subject line to draw attention to it!

I'm glad to see so many views on this thread. Maybe we can all help try to build this forum into something special. I kinda like it here.

Hi, I never thought of it that way..Yes, it somehow does make me feel better, now that you mention it. Thanks for giving me that prospective.

I hope so to, Wannabe. It started out great and the when the old BT reopened, people wandered back over there.

I wandered too, not there, but somewhere else, where a bunch of friends were. I like it here, so Im back, but with a few exceptions, nobody's talking to me..lol

I check in every day now, so talk to me, darnit..

Hi Sally,

so let me tell you about my busy month... j/k

But I'm also going to try to contribute more. This seems like a promising forum and we all have to do our part to make it welcoming and friendly. I think I've just gone through a period of not wanting any more relating to MS in my life so I turned off. But I know that I need the support too and it's easier for me when I connect with others.

Have a good weekend!