Technologies

Researchers at Stanford have identified a new target, diacylglycerol-O-acyltransferase-1 (DGAT1), for treating multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that affects 2 million people worldwide. The cause of MS is unknown, but an immunological mechanism is believed to be involved. In MS, myelin reactive T cells enter into the brain and spinal cord and mediate dysfunction and eventual paralysis. Currently, there is no cure for MS. Treatments exist to prevent or shorten exacerbations and relieve symptoms, however these treatments are often ineffective and can have undesirable side effects. Thus, new therapeutics to treat MS are needed. To help meet this need, the inventors took advantage of recent work from their lab. Using a mouse model of MS (called EAE), they found that memory CD4 T cells that infiltrate the CNS during the disease express high levels of DGAT1. Further, they found inhibiting DGAT1 significantly attenuates EAE in mice. This technology provides a new therapeutic target to treat MS.