Cerebral energy metabolism in multiple sclerosis. (FWOTM596)

The progressive phase in multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by an ill understood diffuse axonal degeneration. The current hypothesis suggests that a primary axonal energy failure is responsible for this axonal degeneration. However, our recent finding that a reduced level of creatine kinase-B (CK-B) is responsible for a reduced astrocyte phosphocreatine (PCr) metabolism in MS patients, generates a new hypothesis that impaired energy metabolism in astrocytic endfeet contacting the axonal nodes may be responsible for axonal energy failure and subsequent axonal degeneration. This proposal aims to understand the mechanisms underlying the reduction in astrocyte CK-B levels in MS and to investigate whether axonal energy failure is secondary to a reduced astrocyte metabolism.

Keywords:Blood Pressure, Diabetes

Disciplines:Basic sciences