New Gene Therapy Could Reverse Paralysis in Multiple Sclerosis

Whereas researchers in the past have focused on using gene therapy to deliver curative or therapeutic protein, this team of researchers focused on using gene therapy to explore and exploit the liver's natural ability to induce immune tolerance. Using an AAV vector, the researcher delivered the gene to the myelin sheath protein adding in the production of MOG to the liver. The immune system can be triggered by the expression of MOG by liver cells to product the highly specific Tregs which prevent the rogue autoreactive effector T cells from making an attack on the protein in the protective myelin sheath.