Multiple Sclerosis: The Role of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in IR Resistance
Condition: Multiple Sclerosis; Mitochondrial Alteration
MeSH terms: Multiple Sclerosis; Sclerosis
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central
      nervous system (CNS) and is one of the most common neurological diseases, often leading to
      disability of the patients. The MS pathogenesis includes vascular and inflammatory
      components, however recently also the role of mitochondrial dysfunction being a hot topic in
      neurodegeneration.
    

Detailed description: 
      Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central
      nervous system (CNS) and is one of the most common neurological diseases, often leading to
      disability of the patients. The MS pathogenesis includes vascular and inflammatory
      components, however recently also the role of mitochondrial dysfunction being a hot topic in
      neurodegeneration. Current project is based on previous project results, where the
      investigators of this project found signs of insulin resistance (IR) with hyperinsulinemia in
      patients with MS, which seem not to be related to chronic inflammation or low physical
      activity. Therefore aim of the present project is to elucidate impact of mitochondrial
      dysfunction in the pathogenesis of impaired insulin action and its role in the
      neurodegenerative process. To test the hypothesis, mitochondrial function, endothelial
      function, changes in membrane proteins and function of autonomic nervous system will be
      assessed. Those parameters will be measured non-invasively and in samples of blood,
      cerebrospinal fluid and skeletal muscle. MS patients will be examined at the time of
      diagnosis and after 12 months of treatment; healthy subjects will be used as controls.
      Elucidation of insulin resistance cause and the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in
      pathogenesis of disease is expected. Potential outcome of the project could be the answer, if
      pharmacological or non-pharmacological intervention might lead to improvement of
      mitochondrial function and therefore represent a new approach to prevent MS progression.
    

Intervention name(s): Oral glucose tolerance test; Testing of autonomous nervous system function; Stroop test
Intervention type(s): Diagnostic Test; Diagnostic Test; Diagnostic Test
Intervention description(s): Oral glucose tolerance test to measure glucose and insulin concentrations after oral glucose load; Autonomous nervous system function will be assessed using a battery of tests (orthostasis, Valsalva manoeuvre, heart rate variability recording, blood hormone levels, ect.); Stroop test will be used to test cognitive function
Observational model: Case-Control
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Patients with newly diagnosed MS will be examined twice: immediately after the diagnosis
        confirmation and after at least 12 months of MS treatment
      
Biospecimen description: 
      MicroRNA, DNA