Researchers report that a single molecule called IL-6 is the cause of transverse myelitis (TM), an autoimmune disease in the central nervous system that’s related to multiple sclerosis.The study found that levels of IL-6 are dramatically elevated in the spinal fluid of people with TM. The finding may help in the development of treatments for both TM and multiple sclerosis."This is the first time a single culprit has been identified as causing a CNS (central nervous system) autoimmune disease,” researcher Dr. Adam Kaplin, a psychiatrist and assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in a prepared statement.IL-6 is a chemical messenger that immune system cells use to communicate with each other. Most TM patients suffer a single attack, but 15 percent to 30 percent of TM patients go on to develop full-blown multiple sclerosis. TM usually results in permanent impairment, including leg and arm weakness, bowel and bladder dysfunction, pain and paralysis.The researchers decided to investigate IL-6 because TM patients suffer from memory impairment and depression. Previous research implicated IL-6 in mood and concentration disorders.The study appears in the October issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
