Immune cells attack synapses

Inflammation causes cerebral cortex dysfunction in multiple sclerosis. Damage to the brain gray matter plays an important role in the progression of multiple sclerosis. A team of neuroscientists including SyNergy members Thomas Misgeld, Martin Kerschensteiner, and Ruben Portugues has now shown that the cause are inflammatory responses that lead to synapse loss, reducing neuronal activity. Targeted inhibition of these immune cells could mitigate such synaptic damage, and therefore provides a promising therapeutic option for progressive multiple sclerosis.