Hepcidin And Metallothioneins As Molecular Base For Sex-Dependent Differences In Clinical Course Of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis In Chronic Iron Overload

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system characterised by inflammatory and degenerative changes. It is considered that disease arises from the influence of environmental factors on genetically susceptible individuals. Recent researches, using magnetic resonance imaging, connected iron deposits in different brain regions with demyelinating process in multiple sclerosis patients. Although iron is an essential trace element important for many biological functions it could be harmful because iron excess can induce the production of reactive oxygen species, development of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation which leads to demyelination.
Source: Medical Hypotheses - Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Source Type: research