Multiple Sclerosis Vaccine

East Carolina University
posted on 01/15/2010

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Multiple Sclerosis (MS) afflicts more than 2.5 million people worldwide. In the United State alone, 400,000 people suffer from the disorder. MS is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, and more particularly, the myelin material that surrounds and protects individual nerve fibers. The body's own immune system attacks the myelin, leaving behind lesions and scarring that interrupt electric impulses traveling to and from the brain. No cure exists for MS, but various treatments are available to improve the quality of life for those living with the disease. The global market for these treatments is currently estimated at $8 billion. Dr. Mark Mannie, of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, is developing a unique fusion protein that, when tested in the widely accepted experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) rat model, produced a dramatic tolerogenic effect. Rats, whether pretreated or following exposure to the EAE stimulating agent, exhibited decreased incidence, reduced symptoms, and delayed onset of attack. Dr. Mannie is currently planning studies in other mammalian models that will eventually lead to clinical trials in humans.

Research to date has predominantly focused on MS, but this technology could apply to any autoimmune diseases with similar modes of action. Suggested applications include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, diabetes type I, Crohn's disease, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, among others.

The vaccine could potentially cure autoimmune disease via the induction of tolerance upon the patient's immune system. There are currently no cures on the market for MS or the other major autoimmune diseases.