Positive Health Online

Abstract

HESAMIAN and ESKANDARI, 1 Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; 2 Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, neskandari@med.mui.ac.ir investigated the potential role of peripheral immune cells and trace elements in Multiple Sclerosis Physiopathology.

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. The cause of MS is not known completely, and pathology is specified by involved demyelinated areas in the white and grey matter of the brain and spinal cord.

Methodology

Inflammation and peripheral tolerance breakdown due to Treg cell defects and/or effector cell resistance are present at all stages of the disease.

Results

Several invading peripheral immune cells are included in the process of the disease such as macrophages, CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, B cells, and plasma cells. Trace elements are known as elements found in soil, plants, and living organisms in small quantities. Some of them (e.g., Al, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Se) are essential for the body's functions like catalysts in enzyme systems, energy metabolism, etc. Al toxicity and Cu, Zn, and Se toxicity and deficiency can affect the immune system following neuron inflammation and degeneration.

Conclusion

These processes may result in MS pathology. Of course, factors such as lifestyle, environment, and industrialization can affect levels of trace elements in the human body.

References

Mohammad Sadegh Hesamian  1 , Nahid Eskandari  2. Potential Role of Trace Elements (Al, Cu, Zn, and Se) in Multiple Sclerosis Physiopathology. Neuroimmunomodulation. ;27(4):163-177. 2020. doi: 10.1159/000511308. Epub 2021 Mar 10.

Comment

The above research demonstrate that trace element toxicity and deficiency can affect the immune system following neuron inflammation and degeneration which may result in MS pathology.