Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease affecting the function of the central nervous system. Up to now, most of the 230 genetic variants associated with the disease have been linked to changes in immune cells. However, Yale scientists now report that genetic risk variants can also affect the function of brain cells, which then become complicit in triggering the potentially disabling disease.

“The risk variant we studied instructs brain cells to lower the barrier for immune cells to enter the brain, which is an important first step in the disease,” said David Pitt, associate professor of neurology and senior author of the study, published December 17 in the journal Nature Communications. “This understanding increases the number of possible targets available for treatment moving forward.”

Pitt also noted that similar mechanisms might apply to other autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes.

Gerald Ponath is the first author of the paper.

The research was funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and a generous gift by Stanley Trotman, Yale College, class of 1965.