Multiple Sclerosis currently has no cure, however many drugs and treatments are becoming FDA approved as treatment for MS patients. Some of these new treatments that have been approved include Ocrelizumab, Fingolimod, and Cladribine. The first one mentioned was labeled by the National MS Society as a “game changer” and further updates will be researched with this treatment. Recently, an interesting study was released on the use of estriol for MS treatments. Estriol is one of the three main pregnancy hormones. Oestriol and E3 are other common names used for this hormone. Levels of this hormone rise during a womens 9-month pregnancy and reach its peak right before delivery. In regular people who are not pregnant, estriol is rarely recognizable in the body because of how low levels usually are.
According to Science News and other resources, a study was conducted by UCLA on a mouse model of MS. In this study, estriol was key in repairing the damage done to myelin. Myelin is best described as a protective coating that acts like a barrier around nerves, the spinal cord, and the brain. Its chemical composition is mainly made up of proteins and lipids. For patients with MS, the inflammatory reaction of the body causes the myelin barriers to break down. Since myelin aids the body in transmitting electrical signals, without it signals are disrupted. This messaging dysfunction is what causes the severe symptoms related to MS. Also, since there are no treatments or cures to repair damage done to myelin, the underlying nerve fibers can die easily.
A team of scientists from the University of California, Los Angeles, conducted an experiment which showed the effects of estriol on mice. Only female mice were used in this experiment to prevent possible side effects of estriol treatment in males. In the study this hormone worked to repair myelin in the brain's cortex. This was extremely important as the cortex is a significant region affected by MS. Through this connection it is now possible to assume that the increase in estriol levels during pregnancy is what leads to the decrease of disease progression while a woman is pregnant. From right after the onset of the disease, mobility issues were lower when compared to untreated mice. The cortex of the female mice who were given estriol treatment also had less shrinkage. Shrinkage of the cortex for MS patients is directly linked to worsened symptoms. The reason this study is a huge part of the MS research pathway is because it was the first study that found a treatment to repair myelin in the cortex of the brain. No other treatment was able to do this but rather they were used to reduce nerve tissue inflammation, scarring, and slow the eventual destruction of myelin. During a UCLA press release the following was stated, “This is the first study to identify a treatment that could repair myelin in the [brain’s] cortex, undoing some of the damage caused by MS.” Through the success of this experiment, scientists are having a promising future in using estriol for treatment for female patients with MS.
As new treatments and new studies are being released for MS, the use of estriol is continued to be developed for female patients. While it is not yet FDA approved, researchers are working to solidify a scientific foundation to develop this promising treatment.
Works Cited
Doherty, Colleen. “Estriol: Uses, Side Effects, Dosage, and Interactions.” Verywell Health, 9 March 2023, https://www.verywellhealth.com/estriol-for-multiple-sclerosis-4067078. Accessed 2 July 2023.
Ellis, Danielle. “Determining the effect of estriol treatment on cerebral cortex in the preclinical model of MS.” News Medical, 16 June 2023, https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230616/Determining-the-effect-of-estriol-treatment-on-cerebral-cortex-in-the-preclinical-model-of-MS.aspx. Accessed 2 July 2023.
“Estriol‐mediated neuroprotection in multiple sclerosis localized by voxel‐based morphometry.” NCBI, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6160650/. Accessed 2 July 2023.
“Pregnancy hormone repairs myelin damage in MS mouse model.” ScienceDaily, 15 June 2023, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/06/230615183107.htm. Accessed 2 July 2023.
Wexler, Marisa, and Margarida Maia. “Pregnancy hormone estriol promotes myelin repair in MS mice –...” Multiple Sclerosis News Today, 22 June 2023, https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/news-posts/pregnancy-hormone-estriol-myelin-repair-ms-mice/. Accessed 2 July 2023.
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