The study of what causes a disease or condition is commonly known as etiology. By using a variety of factors, events, underlying causes, and agents, etiological research seeks to find and acknowledge the exact ways a disease functions in order to create treatment options and developing diagnostic methods.
A study conducted by the Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine demonstrates the significance of fungi in the pathogenesis (or development) of multiple sclerosis. The autoimmune response in M.S., generated by inflamed cell infiltration (through mainly Th1 and Th17 cells), leads to the rapid growth of immune cells and B cells.
One hypothesis suggested by genome-wide association studies, when in regards to M.S. etiology, is that antifungal immune genes are linked to autoimmune diseases, which shows a potential connection between fungus and M.S.
The fungi in particular that seem to be connected to M.S. includes species like Trichosporon mucoid and Candida, as suggested by evidence. Studies have shown that fungal DNA can be found within the brains of M.S. patients, and an infection caused by Candida can cause M.S. to rapidly progress in pathogenesis. This is demonstrated with animal models (can aggravate symptoms).
Fungi can contribute to multiple sclerosis by a variety of means, most of which include activating peripheral T cells, which promotes cell migration in the central nervous system due to increased expression (or gene coding) of adhesion molecules and chemokines. Fungal toxins like gliotoxin can harm astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, which can disturb the blood brain barrier, leading to further exacerbation of neuroinflammation and myelin degradation.
Fungi can also lead to differences in the gut mycobiome (the fungal component of a microbial community, opposing the microbiome, which has organisms like bacteria instead). This demonstrates that gut fungi can modulate immune responses. To further add, fungi can also, without external help, activate peripheral macrophages and further facilitate the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, which contributes to the aforementioned Th1 and Th17 cell activation, and just general pathogenesis of M.S.
Fungi can play various roles in M.S., as shows by this particular study. Through either invasion of the central nervous system, caused by disease, or peripheral immune responses, fungi can worsen M.S. through multiple mechanisms, such as disrupting the BBB or immune activation. By understanding the pathways for fungal signaling, we can receive further insight on potential other therapies for M.S.
Citations
Wu, Chuyu, et al. “The Roles of Fungus in CNS Autoimmune and Neurodegeneration Disorders.” Frontiers in Immunology, vol. 13, Jan. 2023, https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1077335.
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