Published in Research Headlines, Research Information Centre, European Commission
Autoimmune diseases establish themselves when antibodies designed to protect the human body against foreign invaders turn against their own cells and tissues. In multiple sclerosis (MS), antibodies begin to attack nerve cells which leads to a degeneration of the myelin fibres, the sheath that surrounds neurons. Very little is known about where these antibodies come from, but now scientists have identified a way to allocate antibodies to their source cells, thereby allowing a better tracking of these rogue molecules.


In multiple sclerosis healthy nerve cells are attacked by aggressive antibodies,© Shutterstock

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