Studies find cell defects related to multiple sclerosis

In immunology studies related to multiple sclerosis, Dr. Michael Demetriou and his UC Irvine research colleagues found that defects on cell-surface sugars may promote the short-term inflammation and long-term neurodegeneration that occurs in the central nervous system of multiple sclerosis patients. The findings, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, also suggest a dietary supplement similar to glucosamine may be useful as an oral therapy to correct these defects and to treat both the short-term and the long-term symptoms of the disease. Pictured: Demetriou (center), assistant professor of neurology, and microbiology and molecular genetics, with Ani Grigorian (left) and Sung-Uk Lee (right).