Une étude publiée dans le numéro de décembre de Nature Medicine apporte des réponses au rôle de

Press Release New therapeutic target for the treatment of multiple sclerosis Researchers prove the role of certain leukocyte cell adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of the disease Montréal, January 22, 2007 – A study published in the February issue of Nature Immunology provides answers about the role of novel adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and suggests new therapeutic targets for its treatment. The study, by the team of neurologist Dr. Alexandre Prat, neurologist, researcher at the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal and professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Université de Montréal, reveals that the adhesion molecule, dubbed ALCAM (Activated Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule), or CD166, which is expressed by the endothelial cells of the brain, plays a major role in the migration of certain types of leukocytes to the brain. Researchers believe that the molecule constitutes a novel target to restrict migration of immune cells to the brain, thus dampening neuroinflammation and decreasing the lesions characteristic of MS. MS is a chronic autoimmune disease of the nervous system that affects approximately 55,000 young adults in Canada. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of brain inflammation is essential in the development of new treatments for this degenerative disease. The study was carried out also ...