In another study, low levels of a cholesterol protein correlated with the severity of MS. The finding suggests that the protein, which protects against inflammation, may protect against developing MS and may help regenerate damaged neurons, said Lidia Gardner, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. Cholesterol drugs thus may be potential treatments for MS.
Researchers found that a type of immune system cell directly targets and damages nerve cell axons, just as MS does. This cell may be a target for new disease-modifying therapies. In addition, researchers have found that when exosomes—tiny, naturally occurring nanovesicles—are produced by dendritic cells and applied to the brain, they can deliver a mixture of proteins and RNAs that promote the regeneration of protective myelin sheaths and guard against MS symptoms.