Barbara Cannella
Tanzania
Research Article
Multiple Sclerosis: Neurofilament Pathology in Spinal Motor Neurons
Author(s): Kathrin S Muller-Wielsch, Barbara Cannella and Cedric S RaineKathrin S Muller-Wielsch, Barbara Cannella and Cedric S Raine
Objective: While traditionally a disorder of myelin, in multiple sclerosis (MS) neuronal and axonal damage has in recent years become an important topic of clinical relevance. To address this, alterations in neurofilament phosphorylation, known markers of neuronal health, were investigated in anterior horn cells in MS spinal cord tissue for signs of motor neuron damage.
Methods: Spinal cord tissue was examined from 13 MS and 6 control patients. Fresh frozen sections were labelled with antibodies against phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated epitopes of neurofilament H (NF-H) and analyzed by light microscopy.
Results: In MS, increased expression of phosphorylated NF-H in spinal motor neuron perikarya (abnormal for neurons) occurred in 61.5% of cases, mostly in chronic active lesions, with the strongest immunoreactivity .. View More»