Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerve fibres, disrupting communication between the brain and body. But researchers are still working to understand why certain areas of the brain are particularly vulnerable to damage.
A team led by neuroscientist Jo Anne Stratton at The Neuro has found that cells lining the brain's fluid-filled cavities may play an important role.
These cells normally form a protective barrier between the brain and the fluid that surrounds and cushions it. Using advanced brain imaging and cellular analysis, the researchers discovered that this barrier shows signs of disruption in people with MS, particularly in areas where brain tissue is damaged.
Experiments in mice also showed that an inflammatory molecule can weaken the barrier, potentially allowing harmful substances to penetrate surrounding brain tissue.
Published in Nature Neuroscience, the findings provide new insight into how inflammation may contribute to brain damage in MS. Further research could help determine whether protecting this barrier offers a new approach to slowing disease progression.
