Editor's Summary
26 July 2007
Pivotal to multiple sclerosis?
The protein 
B-crystallin, found primarily in the lens of the eye, could be the critical 'tipping point' in the spiral of inflammation and damage that occurs in multiple sclerosis. It was known to be a major immune target in multiple sclerosis patients. Now work in mice shows that the protein plays a protective role in a model of multiple sclerosis. When injected in mice it acts as an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective factor and can also reverse paralysis.
News and Views: Inflammatory disease: Assault on the guardian
In multiple sclerosis, the immune system attacks 'self' tissues. Ten years after the discovery of one target of this autoimmunity, work with mice identifies it as a guardian protein produced in response to inflammation.
Richard M. Ransohoff
doi:10.1038/448421a
Letter: Protective and therapeutic role for 
B-crystallin in autoimmune demyelination
Shalina S. Ousman, Beren H. Tomooka, Johannes M. van Noort, Eric F. Wawrousek, Kevin O'Conner, David A. Hafler, Raymond A. Sobel, William H. Robinson & Lawrence Steinman
doi:10.1038/nature05935
First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (1,046K) | Supplementary information
