MS Discovery

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a frustrating disease to treat. There are drugs that ease symptoms but none that target the cause. Now, a new discovery may help researchers better understand the cause of MS and develop life-saving treatments.

Janek Pawlik's son is his pride and joy. But this dad isn't as carefree as most.

"I can't do things other fathers can do," Pawlick says. "I don't give him piggybacks, because I can't do that, I can't risk that."

Pawlick has MS, a condition that causes his immune system to attack his nervous system. The disease makes simple things like walking difficult.

 "It changes how you perceive yourself and the things you think you can have," he says. "You get scared of living, and scared of dying at the same time."

MS affects 300,000 Americans. Researchers have spent decades trying to figure out what causes it.

 "We've all been very frustrated by how slow a process it's been," says Jonathan Haines, Ph.D., professor of human genetics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.

Now, for the first time in 30 years, scientists have identified a new gene that's involved in MS. It's called I17R. Having a variation of the gene increases a person's risk of MS by 30 percent.

"It's very exciting to us to actually make this breakthrough," Haines says.

Researchers accomplished the feat by collecting blood samples from thousands of patients with and without MS. Robots then separated out the DNA and made hundreds of copies of it. Computer software helped researchers determine which groups had which genes.

 "What it does is open up a whole new avenue for research to try to identify new targets," Haines says.

Researchers hope the breakthrough will allow patients to be tested for the gene and put on treatments earlier. The finding will also aid researchers in their quest to design new therapies that target the specific genetic defect.

Pawlick is excited about the research.

"It may not benefit me, but maybe my son or the next generation will benefit from whatever's going on right now," he says.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

If you would like more information, please contact:

Craig Boerner
National News Director
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
News & Public Affairs
(615) 343-7421

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