Plasminogen Deficiency Delays Onset, Reduces Severity of Symptoms in Rodent Model of MS
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system in which the immune system attacks myelin, the fatty substance that protects nerve fibers. In a new study, researchers found that mice deficient in plasminogen (the precursor to the enzyme plasmin) experienced delayed onset of a rodent model of MS, as well as had less severe symptoms and decreased demyelination in the spinal cord compared to control animals. Treatment with tranexamic acid -- a widely-used medication for bleeding disorders -- also delayed disease onset. Further research is needed to determine whether these findings could inform the development of new therapeutic approaches for MS and related diseases.
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Corresponding author: Eric S. Mullins, eric.mullins@cchmc.org