International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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Molecular Research and Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis

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Dr. Nada Starčević Čizmarević

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Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Interests: human genetics; neurodegenerative diseases; multiple sclerosis; cytogenetics

Prof. Dr. Borut Peterlin

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Guest Editor

Clinical Institute of Genomic Medicine, University Medical Center Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: public health genomics; genomic medicine in health systems; mechanisms of human genetic and complex disorders
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Dear Colleagues,

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system with autoimmune and inflammatory features. The precise etiology of MS remains elusive, presumed to result from complex interactions between genetic predispositions and environmental influences, infectious exposures, and factors that lead to pro-inflammatory conditions and neuronal injury. Despite extensive research on the development of new drugs, there is no effective therapy for all patients, and the response of patients to available medication varies greatly.

This Special Issue aims to expand knowledge and clarify the molecular mechanisms and genetic factors involved in multiple sclerosis in order to search for accurate biomarkers and contribute to advances in the treatment of all forms of MS.

This Special Issue only considers papers that use molecular data to improve our understanding of the genetic and molecular basis of the disease and to develop therapeutic strategies based on the underlying mechanisms of MS, neuroprotection, and repair.

Therefore, we invite researchers and clinicians to submit articles with their findings that address various aspects of MS, with a focus on molecular research and treatment strategies.

Dr. Nada Starčević Čizmarević
Dr. Borut Peterlin
Guest Editors

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Research

19 pages, 2035 KiB

Open AccessArticle

MIND Diet Impact on Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Biochemical Changes after Nutritional Intervention

by Ainoa Navarrete-Pérez, Sara Gómez-Melero, Begoña Mª Escribano, Alejandro Galvao-Carmona, Cristina Conde-Gavilán, Mª Ángeles Peña-Toledo, Noelia Villarrubia, Luisa Mª Villar, Isaac Túnez, Eduardo Agüera-Morales and Javier Caballero-Villarraso

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(18), 10009; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms251810009 - 17 Sep 2024

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Abstract

There is substantial evidence supporting the neuroprotective effects of the MIND diet in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of a nutritional intervention (NI) with this diet on multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, two groups were included: MS patients before the NI (group A) and healthy control subjects (group B). In this stage, groups (A) and (B) were compared (case–control study). In the second stage, group (A) was assessed after the NI, with comparisons made between baseline and final measurements (before-and-after study). In the case–control stage (baseline evaluation), we found significant differences in fatigue scores (p < 0.001), adherence to the MIND diet (p < 0.001), the serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (p < 0.001), and higher oxidative status in the MS group, with lower levels of reduced glutathione (p < 0.001), reduced/oxidised glutathione ratio (p < 0.001), and elevated levels of lipoperoxidation (p < 0.002) and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (p < 0.025). The before-and-after intervention stage showed improvements in fatigue scores (p < 0.001) and physical quality-of-life scores (MSQOL-54) (p < 0.022), along with decreases in the serum levels of glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) (p < 0.041), lipoperoxidation (p < 0.046), and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (p < 0.05). Consumption of the MIND diet is linked to clinical and biochemical improvement in MS patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research and Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis)

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11 pages, 272 KiB

Open AccessArticle

CCR5 Δ32 and CTLA-4 +49 A/G Gene Polymorphisms and Interferon-β Treatment Response in Croatian and Slovenian Multiple Sclerosis Patients

by Jasna Nekić, Ivana Stanković Matić, Valentino Rački, Dolores Janko Labinac, Vladimira Vuletić, Miljenko Kapović, Smiljana Ristić, Borut Peterlin and Nada Starčević Čizmarević

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(13), 7412; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25137412 - 5 Jul 2024

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of CCR5 Δ32 and CTLA-4 polymorphisms on the response to IFN-β treatment in our cohort of MS patients from Croatia and Slovenia. Genomic DNA was obtained from 295 MS patients (230 female; 65 male) classified as responders (n = 173) and non-responders (n = 122) based on clinical criteria for treatment efficacy. Genotyping was performed via PCR/PCR-RFLP. No significant differences in the genotype/allele frequencies of CCR5Δ32 and CTLA-4 +49 A/G were detected between male responders and non-responders. A significantly higher prevalence (p = 0.039) of the CTLA-4 +49 AA genotype was found in female responders (42.1%) compared to non-responders (28.9%). Using multiple forward regression analysis, the CTLA-4 +49 AA genotype significantly predicted a positive response to IFN-β therapy in females (p = 0.011) and contributed to 4.5% of response variability. Furthermore, the combined presence of the CCR5Δ32 wtwt/CTLA-4 +49 AA genotype significantly predicted a positive response to treatment in females (p = 0.025). The age at disease onset, pretreatment relapse rate, and baseline EDSS score were not reliable predictors of treatment response in MS patients. Our results indicate that the presence of the CCR5Δ32 polymorphism was not associated with the response to IFN-β treatment, whereas the CTLA-4 +49 polymorphism showed a positive correlation with an optimal response in female patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research and Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis)

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