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Astrocytes, star-shaped cells found around nerve cells, make an inflammation driver of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) called interleukin-6 (IL-6) in part by gearing up a chain of reactions involving nuclear factor kappa B, or NF-kappaB, according to a study in rat cells. Researchers also observed that by blocking…
Key players in B-cell signaling pathways and related inflammatory molecules were elevated in the blood of people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) compared with healthy people, a study found. The findings suggest that targeting this signaling pathway could show therapeutic promise in NMOSD, the researchers noted. The study,…
Self-reactive antibodies that cause most cases of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are released directly from immune B-cells in lymph nodes as opposed to cells in the bloodstream, a study has discovered. These findings implicate ongoing lymph node activity as the main driver of disease-causing antibody production in NMOSD.
Longer-term treatment with immunosuppressants may halve the risk of relapse, or of symptoms returning, in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a study in China found. When taken non-stop for up to five years, such treatment reduced the risk of relapse in NMOSD patients, with a mild rebound when immunosuppressants…
Nonprofits, scientists, governmental organizations, and the rare disease drug development industry have long cited 7,000 as the average number of rare diseases in the world. But a new analysis shows there are as many as 10,867 rare diseases globally. And that…
A specific pattern of brain inflammation called BPCLI sometimes can occur in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and often is associated with encephalitis-like symptoms that may contribute to misdiagnoses. A study with that finding, “Bilateral parafalcine cortical and leptomeningeal impairment: A characteristic pattern of MOG antibody…
Uplizna (inebilizumab-cdon) was found effective both at reducing attacks and lessening disability in people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) living in Europe, according to data from the N-MOmentum Phase 2/3 trial. Nearly 90% of participants given Uplizna remained free from attacks six months after starting the therapy,…
About a third of adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) have cognitive impairments, affecting mostly visual learning and memory, according to a small Spanish study. Mood, fatigue, and satisfaction with life were among the contributing factors to cognitive impairment. According to the researchers, cognitive…
Autoimmunity Modifying (AIM) Biologicals, an experimental platform that Aeterna Zentaris is developing to treat autoimmune diseases like neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), showed proof-of-concept activity in cell and mouse models of NMOSD, new data show. The findings were presented at the 13th International Congress on Autoimmunity, held earlier…
The use of immunomodulatory therapy based on type 1 interferons (IFNs) may trigger neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), according to a new case report. Researchers in China described the case of a 24-year-old man diagnosed with the autoimmune disease after receiving treatment with IFN-alpha, a…
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