Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common multifocal inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Due to the progressive neurodegenerative nature of MS, developing treatments that exhibit direct neuroprotective effects are needed. Tecfidera™ (BG-12) is an oral formulation of the fumaric acid esters (FAE), containing the active metabolite dimethyl fumarate (DMF). Although BG-12 showed remarkable efficacy in lowering relapse rates in clinical trials, its mechanism of action in MS is not yet well understood. In this study, we reported the potential neuroprotective effects of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) on mouse and rat neural stem/progenitor cells (NPCs) and neurons. We found that DMF increased the frequency of the multipotent neurospheres and the survival of NPCs following oxidative stress with hydrogen peroxide treatment. In addition, we showed that DMF reduced
reactive oxygen species production induced by hydrogen peroxide. DMF also decreased oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. Using motor neuron survival assay, DMF significantly promoted survival of motor neurons under oxidative stress. (Abstract truncated as I can do have the time to to explain the rest).Tecfidera is a long-lasting dimethyl fumarate, which people have suggested works via Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2, also known as NFE2L2 or Nrf2. Nrf2 is a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) protein that regulates the expression of anti-oxidantproteins that protect against oxidative damage triggered by injury and inflammation.
Under normal or unstressed conditions, Nrf2 is kept in the cytoplasm by a cluster of proteins that degrade it quickly. Under oxidative stress, Nrf2 is not degraded, but instead travels to the nucleus where it binds to a DNA promoter and initiates transcription of anti-oxidative genes and their proteins.
Nrf2 is kept in the cytoplasm by Kelch like-ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) and Cullin 3 which degrade Nrf2 byubiquitination.[5] Cullin 3 ubiquitinates its substrate, Nrf2. Keap1 is a substrate adaptor, which helps Cullin 3 ubiquitinate Nrf2. When Nrf2 is ubiquitinated, it is transported to the proteasome, where it is degraded and its components recycled. Under normal conditions Nrf2 has a half-life of only 20 minutes.Oxidative stress or electrophilic stress disrupts critical cysteine residues in Keap1, disrupting the Keap1-Cul3 ubiquitination system. When Nrf2 is not ubiquitinated, it builds up in the cytoplasm and moves into the nucleus. In the nucleus, it combines (forms a heterodimer) with a small Maf protein and binds to the anti-oxidant response element (ARE) in the upstream promoter region of many anti-oxidative genes, and initiates their transcription.
Tecfidera (and its metabolite, monomethyl fumarate) activates the Nrf2 pathway and in this study it is suggested that DMF promotes the survival of nerves.
Since Tec reduces your T cell count by 30% and has no significant effect on the reduction on brain atrophy it seems this drug is another repurpossed immunosuppressant.
When are we going to see some of that innovation that Giovannoni keeps talking about?
As it is now, the drug companies can simply charge whatever want while they concentrate on marketing old immunosuppressive drugs.
I guess the only two drugs specifically designed for MS are Tysabri and Copaxone. The former can result in death while the latter is not very effective.
Nice job pharma, you are a success with ms medications from the stockholders point of view, but how many more "innovations" will be approved for this disease? It seems the skies the limit at this point.
Is is true multiple sclerosis is not so much a diagnosis as an explanation of the issue
Multiple scars, currently cause unknown
Let's be honest that's the truth of it
Hence why some results are promising some are not in people, you may for all you know be treating many different diseases and causes
And I thought that the DMF dose in humans is already very high.
What is the relative time scale of damage caused by oxidative stress compared Nrf2-promoted expression of suggested protective proteins?
ose in humans about 120mg twice a day so about 1.5mg/kg the animal dose use is sometimes 100-200mg/kg.
What is the time scale//i've no iea sorry
Isn't Tec dosing 240 mg twice a day? Anyways, it does not change the conclusion about bigger dosing with mice.
Docs i've been reading the following study. My lymphocyte levels have gone up since on Tecfidera. Should my neurologist be looking for speciific lymphocye levels?? thanks
http://www.msdiscovery.org/news/news_briefs/16930-low-cd8-t-cell-counts-found-dimethyl-fumarate
Low CD8+ T Cell Counts Found With Dimethyl Fumarate
A recent study found that patients taking dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera) had low counts of CD8+ T cells, though their overall levels of lymphocytes were within the normal range. The findings suggest that physicians may want to monitor specific lymphocyte levels in addition to doing full blood cell counts.