- New research suggests that inflammation in the meninges, the brain’s protective barrier, may extend into the grey matter and contribute to the development of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Researchers used innovative techniques to demonstrate a gradient of immune genes and markers of inflammation extending from the meninges to the adjacent brain tissue in mice.
- While the study sheds light on the mechanisms of brain damage in MS, limitations in spatial resolution and the use of a mouse model demonstrate that further investigations using human samples are needed.
A new study — whose findings appear in eLife as a reviewed preprint — used innovative techniques to demonstrate a gradient of immune genes and markers of inflammation, extending from the meninges to the neighboring brain tissue in mice.
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These membranes, known as the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater, serve the purpose of shielding and securing the brain, as well as providing a structural framework for blood vessels, nerves, lymphatics, and the cerebrospinal fluid that envelops the central nervous system.
Inflammation occurring within the meninges is observed in all forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).
Increasing evidence indicates that this inflammation plays a crucial role in the advancement of the disease, including the loss of the protective covering on nerves (demyelination), the loss of newly developed nerve extensions (neurites), and a reduction in the volume of grey matter.
Damage to the grey matter is associated with debilitating symptoms of MS, such as cognitive impairment and depression. Meningeal inflammation seems to be a crucial factor contributing to the pathology of cortical grey matter.
In this study, researchers investigated the patterns of gene expression within the meninges and the neighboring grey matter, with a focus on maintaining contextual information regarding the…
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