Here is Why a MS Diagnosis More Common in Women Than in Men

A new study conducted by researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has unveiled a key difference in the brain structures of men and women which could explain why multiple sclerosis is more prevalent in women than in men. Specifically, a protein designated S1PR2, which is essentially the gatekeeper for the blood-brain barrier (BBB) tends to be present in higher amounts in people with multiple sclerosis, and it's also produced in far greater quantities in the female brain than in the male. This new study is a revelation to researchers, who have been stumped for decades as to why it is that more women get MS than men. Statistics from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society indicate that MS could be up to three times more common in women, with some studies claiming that it is actually four times more likely. The assumption up until now has been that the key factor is hormones, but the current study is the first one to reveal actual, physiological differences in the brain, and it would seem to debunk the hormone theory.

Dr. Robyn Klein, the study's key author, said, "In our animal studies, estradiol (a sex hormone) did not change levels of S1PR2. However, there are more studies to be done." The study in question was conducted on mice infected with a disease that acts in many ways like MS does in humans, including a propensity for affecting females more often than males. The study looked at brain activity in areas damaged by the disease, in comparison with areas that the disease does not generally affect. Through the course of study, a number of genes were identified that seem to be directly associated with the disease, though only four were able to be identified as having a specific function. Of the four identified genes, S1PR2 was the one that had the most dramatic effect, controlling whether or not cells could pass through the blood brain barrier. Klein said, "It was a 'Bingo!' moment. Our genetic studies led us right to this receptor. When we looked at its function in mice, we found that it can determine whether immune cells cross blood vessels to the brain. These cells cause the inflammation that leads to MS." Klein went on to say, "The BBB has proteins that zip up all intercellular junctions. S1PRT causes junctional proteins to unzip." This means that immune cells can pass through in patients with MS. Once the cells cross over, they can then damage and destroy the myelin that protects the brain and spinal cord. While the results are still new, they could lead to breakthrough treatments in MS in the future by targeting this protein, which may be the key to stopping the progression of the disease. To advance her research, Klein and a team of chemists are working to design a "tracer," which can attach to S1PR2 and identify it using positron emission tomography (PET) scans. When volunteers with MS undergo the scans, the tracer will highlight areas where S1PR2 is active to help Klein and her team better understand the role of the protein in multiple sclerosis. Source: healthline.com/health-news/why-do-more-women-than-men-get-ms Image Sources: womenworld.org carefecthomecareservice.com as.wvu.edu neuro.wustl.edu