February 7, 2018 (Medical News Today)
One variable of MS symptoms is demyelination – the process by which the immune system attacks myelin. Thus studies have focused on how to effectively generate “remyelination” – the growth of new myelin.
In this study, the researchers studied the protein called activin-A which plays a part in myelin repair. By looking at the process in which activin-A is used in vivo and in vitro, they found an activin-A receptor called 2a (Acvr2a). Nervous tissues with higher levels of Acvr2a showed remyelination, while tissues reduced levels of Acvr2a showed no signs of remyelination.
Dr. Veronique Miron, a scientist on the team, believes that this finding might lead to a new drug target for MS.
This study was published in the journal Acta Neuropathologica.