Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • News & Views
  • Published:

Multiple sclerosis

One protein, two healing properties

Multiple sclerosis is linked to rogue immune cells that attack mature neurons. Remarkably, immature neurons secrete a protein called LIF, which not only inhibits this attack, but also promotes repair of the damaged nerves.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Multiple sclerosis and treatment with LIF.

References

  1. Pluchino, S. et al. Nature 422, 688–694 (2003).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Cao, W. et al. Immunity 35, 1–12 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Metcalfe, D. Stem Cells 21, 5–14 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Harrington, L. E. et al. Nature Immunol. 6, 1123–1132 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Gao, W. et al. Cell Cycle 8, 1444–1450 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Park, J. et al. Mol. Pharmaceut. 8, 143–152 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Slaets, H. et al. Mol. Ther. 18, 684–691 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Jones, J. L. et al. Brain 133, 2232–2247 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Su M. Metcalfe.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Metcalfe, S. One protein, two healing properties. Nature 477, 287–288 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/477287a

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/477287a

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing