Unveiling the Improvement of Symptoms in Women with Multiple Sclerosis During Pregnancy

Women suffering from the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis temporarily get much better when pregnant. Researchers have now identified the beneficial changes naturally occurring in the immune system during pregnancy. The findings, published in Journal of Neuroinflammation, can show the way to new treatments.

Pregnancy is a very special condition from an immunological point of view. The immune system serves to defend us against foreign substances. However, although half of the genetic material of the foetus comes from the father, it is not rejected by the mother’s immune system. One reason why this balancing act is almost always successful is that during pregnancy the mother’s immune system is adapted to become more tolerant.

Researchers aimed to uncover the reasons behind the improvement of symptoms in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) during pregnancy and explore potential treatment strategies for MS and other autoimmune diseases. 

They focused on T cells, which play a crucial role in the immune system and MS progression. Blood samples were collected from 11 women with MS and 7 healthy women before, during, and after pregnancy. The study analyzed gene expression and epigenetic changes, particularly DNA methylation, in the T cells. Understanding these mechanisms could provide insights into replicating the positive effects of pregnancy on MS symptoms and related conditions.

Refrence:Prominent epigenetic and transcriptomic changes in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells during and after pregnancy in women with multiple sclerosis and controls, Alberto Zenere, Sandra Hellberg, Georgia Papapavlou Lingehed, Maria Svenvik, Johan Mellergård, Charlotte Dahle, Magnus Vrethem, Johanna Raffetseder, Mohsen Khademi, Tomas Olsson, Marie Blomberg, Maria C. Jenmalm, Claudio Altafini, Mika Gustafsson and Jan Ernerudh, (2023), Journal of Neuroinflammation, published online on 27 April 2023, doi: 10.1186/s12974-023-02781-2.