Multiple sclerosis attacks the brain and spinal cord, and women account for about three-quarters of the 2.9 million cases worldwide. Now, researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have found potential molecular reasons for this disparity.
In a small preliminary study of six participants, the team analyzed cerebrospinal fluid from three women with MS and three without. They identified 72 proteins significantly more abundant in the MS group and 46 that were less abundant. Among the elevated proteins were those linked to immune cell activity, including microglia and macrophages. Several proteins tied to neuron repair and neurogenesis were reduced.
One key finding: higher levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in MS patients. SHBG binds estrogen and testosterone, potentially reducing their availability. Sex hormones influence immune activity in the brain, which could explain why women face a threefold higher diagnosis rate in their 30s and 40s, a period marked by hormonal shifts.
Endocrinologist Kimberley Bruce says the findings highlight possible biomarkers for tracking disease and testing new therapies. The research appears in IBRO Neuroscience Reports.