6343 - Multiple Sclerosis Questions And
Answers With Complete Solutions
Give a brief key-point summary of multiple sclerosis. correct
answer: It is a progressive disease of the central nervous
system. Essentially, genetic and environmental factors interact
to form a disease in which T cells pass through the blood brain
barrier and attack the myelin found on CNS axons which
interrupts nerve cell transmission, and ultimately leads to the
death of the underlying axon. This results in a wide range of
motor, sensory, and cognitive impairments. Inflammation from
this process creates plaques, a hallmark sign to diagnose this
disease. Symptoms can be treated and controlled, but never
cured. The patient will acquire disabilities, and while they may
live a reasonable life span, prognosis is ultimately fatal.
What are the cells targeted for destruction by multiple sclerosis?
correct answer: Oligodendrocytes, the myelinating cells of the
CNS.
(Schwann cells are the myelinating cells of the PNS)
(Also, oligodendrocytes are different than schwann cells in that
they provide myelination coverage to multiple axons
simulatenously. So the destruction of a single oligodendrocytes
can disrupt transmission at multiple synaptic pathways at once.)
What does the inflammation response in the brain cause in MS
victims? correct answer: Immune and hormone dysregulation,
independent of the debilitating effects of demyelination.
, It is also responsible for the hallmark plaque/lesions sites that
can be seen in imaging.
What is gliosis? correct answer: Literal translation "condition of
glue", but more relevantly, it is the fibrous scarring condition
that replaces myelin in progressive MS.
What is the role of neuronal mitochondria in multiple sclerosis?
correct answer: Inflammatory products from the autoimmune
attacks of T cells that get past the BBB into the CNS degrade
mitochondrial DNA, leading to an energy failure in axonal
transmission once enough aberrant mitochondria are present.
Is the white matter or gray matter affected by MS? correct
answer: BOTH!
First the (white matter) myelination is destroyed. Then without
its protection, the axon (gray matter) dies.
From a bigger picture, it will affect both cognition and
processing (gray matter function) and synaptic transmission
(white matter function)
What is the geographic risk factor for MS?
What is the genetic risk factor for MS?
What are the environmental risk factors for MS?
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