D.U.Quark
Abstract
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an incurable autoimmune disorder that attacks the myelin sheath surrounding nerve cells. Steady demyelination of these cells over time results in painful inflammation and reduced mobility. Genetic abnormalities could be responsible for the onset of this disease. Chromosomal mutations found in MS patients as well as environmental factors influencing the expression of certain genes will be analyzed in this review. Moreover, treatments regulating gene expression in MS patients will be discussed. Further genetic research would not only provide scientists and medical professionals with a deeper understanding of MS and other autoimmune disorders, but also lead to the development of more effective treatments. Recent findings have enabled scientists to identify genes in MS patients that are absent in healthy patients, but researchers struggle to find a common thread tying these genes together. This is just one of the many reasons why MS is still considered an idiopathic disease.
School
Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
Department
Biological Sciences
First Page
3
Last Page
10
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
DiFrancesco, M. (2018). Who Did It?: A Review on the Possible Causes of Multiple Sclerosis. D.U.Quark, 3 (1). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/duquark/vol3/iss1/2