Oligodendroglia Pathology
In Multiple Sclerosis

Ozawa K, Suchanek G, Breitschopf H, Bruck W, Budka H, Jellinger K, Lassmann H
Brain 1994 Dec;117 ( Pt 6):1311-22
Research Unit for Experimental Neuropathology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Wien
PMID# 7820568
Abstract

Patterns of inflammation, DeMyelination and Oligodendrocyte pathology were studied in acute Multiple Sclerosis and during early and late exacerbations of Chronic Multiple Sclerosis.

Cells within Lesions were identified by ImmunoCytoChemistry with markers for T-Lymphocytes, Macrophages, Oligodendrocytes and Astrocytes.

In addition, In Situ Hybridization for ProteoLipid Protein mRNA was used to identify Myelinating and Myelin supporting Oligodendrocytes. Degenerating cells in the lesions were detected by DNA fragmentation in Cell Nuclei.

The inflammatory reaction in all three types of Multiple Sclerosis lesions was shown to be dominated by T-Lymphocytes and Macrophages.

In late Chronic Multiple Sclerosis lesions, a significant increase in the number of ImmunoGlobulin producing Plasma Cells were found in infiltrates as compared with acute and early Multiple Sclerosis lesions.

In all three types of Multiple Sclerosis, confluent Plaques of DeMyelination were found to be present.

In Acute Multiple Sclerosis, DeMyelination was found to be associated with extensive destruction of other tissue elements, including Oligodendrocytes, Astrocytes and Axons, but even in these destructive lesions a considerable number of Oligodendrocytes were preserved and at disposal therefore, for rapid ReMyelination.

During early exacerbations of Chronic Multiple Sclerosis, selective DeMyelination was associated with almost complete preservation of Oligodendrocytes in the majority of cases. Correspondingly, a high number of ReMyelinating lesions was present at that stage of disease.

In lesions developing Late After Onset of Multiple Sclerosis, DeMyelination generally accompanied extensive destruction and loss of Oligodendrocytes.

In these lesions, ReMyelination was sparse and restricted to lesional borders. The observed patterns of cell death suggest that in some cases Oligodendrocytes, in others Myelin Sheath are the primary target of the destructive process.

Our data indicate that the type and amount of Inflammation, De/ReMyelination, and of tissue damage vary between different forms of Multiple Sclerosis and between different stages of the disease, possibly reflecting different Pathogenic mechanisms in a disease spectrum.




Medical Texts
Anatomy | Immune System | Lymphocytes | Meds
MHC | Movement | Cranial Nerves | Physiology


MS Glossary ThJuland's MSers' Glen - Our CyberHome Page Top The Glen's Gallery: Come & Share Our Stories MS Files MS Abstracts Site Index


Abstracts
ANS | Bladder | Cognition | Fatigue | Fluid | Genetics
Interferons | IVIG | Nitric Oxide | Optic Neuritis | Pain
Physiology | Prions | Prognosis | ReMyelinate | Steroids
Stress | Treatments | TNF | Uric Acid | Viruses



© Copyright 1997 - 2010:
Permission is granted to MS Societies and all MSers to utilize information from these pages provided that no financial reward is gained and attribution is given to the author/s.