Neurotrophic Factor Dynamics in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is characterised by immune-mediated demyelination and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system. Neurotrophic factors, a family of secreted proteins, regulate neuronal survival, synaptic plasticity and myelin repair. In MS lesions, altered expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and other neurotrophins correlates with both protective and pathological processes. Inflammatory cells infiltrating the CNS release neurotrophic molecules that can promote axonal integrity yet may also influence glial reactivity and scar formation. The balance of neurotrophic support and inflammatory signalling thus shapes demyelination and remyelination dynamics. Emerging evidence highlights epigenetic regulation of neurotrophin genes in relation to disease stage and progression. Therapeutic strategies now aim to enhance endogenous neurotrophic signalling or deliver exogenous factors to limit neuronal loss and facilitate remyelination, offering a complementary approach to classical immunomodulation.

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Substantial downregulation of mRNA transcripts encoding BDNF, NT4, SIRT1 and concomitant reduction in plasma protein levels has been demonstrated in a cohort of MS patients relative to healthy controls, emphasising the coordinated suppression of neuroprotective pathways amid chronic inflammation. The study further identified compensatory upregulation of heat-shock proteins HSP27 and HSP70, suggesting an adaptive stress response within peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

A clinical investigation of dietary intervention with a neuroprotective nutritional regimen revealed significant increases in serum BDNF alongside reductions in oxidative stress biomarkers after sustained adherence. Patients reported improved fatigue scores and quality-of-life measures, supporting a link between nutritional modulation of neurotrophic factors and symptomatic outcomes.

In a prospective treatment study, relapsing-remitting MS patients receiving first-line disease-modifying therapies exhibited elevated BDNF levels after twelve months of therapy, although these changes did not directly correlate with conventional disability scales. The findings underscore the complex relationship between therapeutic regimens, neurotrophic signalling and clinical metrics of disease activity.

Neurotrophic Factor Dynamics in Multiple Sclerosis publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in neurotrophic factor dynamics in multiple sclerosis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Neurotrophic factor: A protein that supports the growth, survival and differentiation of neurons.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF): A neurotrophin involved in synaptic plasticity, neuronal survival and myelin repair.

Neurotrophin-4 (NT4): A member of the neurotrophin family that binds to specific receptors to promote neuronal maintenance.

Demyelination: The pathological loss of myelin sheath around axons leading to impaired nerve conduction.

Remyelination: The process by which new myelin sheaths are generated around demyelinated axons, restoring conduction.

References

1. The Role of Neurotrophins in Multiple Sclerosis—Pathological and Clinical Implications. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2012).
2. BDNF rs6265 polymorphism methylation in Multiple Sclerosis: A possible marker of disease progression. PLOS ONE (2018).
3. Exploring the mRNA and Plasma Protein Levels of BDNF, NT4, SIRT1, HSP27, and HSP70 in Multiple Sclerosis Patients and Healthy Controls. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
4. MIND Diet Impact on Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Biochemical Changes after Nutritional Intervention. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2024).
5. The effect of interferon-β therapy on brain-derived neurotrophic factor serum concentration in relapsing— remitting multiple sclerosis: a randomized clinical trial. Immunopathologia Persa (2019).