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| Hopes raised for MS treatment | Hopes raised for MS treatment |
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| Scientists in Bristol claim results from a research project into multiple sclerosis (MS) could lead to treatment to reduce the severity of the disease. | Scientists in Bristol claim results from a research project into multiple sclerosis (MS) could lead to treatment to reduce the severity of the disease. |
| The team carried out tests on mice and then on human brain tissue and found galanin, a protein within brain nerve cells, was resistant to MS. | The team carried out tests on mice and then on human brain tissue and found galanin, a protein within brain nerve cells, was resistant to MS. |
| Professor David Wraith at the University of Bristol said the results were "extremely promising". | Professor David Wraith at the University of Bristol said the results were "extremely promising". |
| The team said it could be at least 10 years before a drug is developed. | The team said it could be at least 10 years before a drug is developed. |
| Professor David Wynick, who works on the function of galanin, set up the project with a group of other scientists working on the development of a vaccine for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. | Professor David Wynick, who works on the function of galanin, set up the project with a group of other scientists working on the development of a vaccine for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. |
| He said: "It has been known for some time that galanin plays a protective role in both the central and peripheral nerve systems - when a nerve is injured levels of galanin increase dramatically in an attempt to limit cell death." | He said: "It has been known for some time that galanin plays a protective role in both the central and peripheral nerve systems - when a nerve is injured levels of galanin increase dramatically in an attempt to limit cell death." |
| The team discovered that mice with high levels of galanin were completely resistant to the MS-like disease, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Transgenic mice that contained no galanin at all developed a more severe form of the disease. | The team discovered that mice with high levels of galanin were completely resistant to the MS-like disease, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Transgenic mice that contained no galanin at all developed a more severe form of the disease. |
| MS is a neurological condition that affects the transfer of messages from the central nervous system to the rest of the body. | MS is a neurological condition that affects the transfer of messages from the central nervous system to the rest of the body. |
| It is the most common neurological disorder among young adults, affecting 85,000 people in the UK with 2,500 newly diagnosed each year. | It is the most common neurological disorder among young adults, affecting 85,000 people in the UK with 2,500 newly diagnosed each year. |
| There is no cure for MS, but drugs can be used to reduce the number and severity of relapses, and to reduce the number of new attacks. | There is no cure for MS, but drugs can be used to reduce the number and severity of relapses, and to reduce the number of new attacks. |
| Dr Doug Brown, research manager at the MS Society, said: "This is an early study and there's a long way to go before we understand what this means for people with MS, but any insight into how MS might be treated is valuable to researchers. | |
| "This is worth further investigation." |