Reprogramming skin cells to treat Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, affects hundreds of thousands of people. It’s a condition where the body’s own immune system attacks a protective layer around nerve fibres called myelin. This prevents messages being conveyed quickly and faithfully through the brain producing symptoms that can include difficulty with vision, movement, speech, balance and sensation. Now scientists have begun to explore the use of stem cells to soak up succinate, a pro-inflammatory signal that provokes the immune system to damage nerve cells. Stefano Pluchino, from Cambridge University, explains his strategy to Chris Smith...