4.3 (15)
A newly identified subset of astrocytes cells long thought to be responsible for simply providing nutrition and support to neurons can prevent brain inflammation by promoting the destruction of pro-inflammatory immune T-cells, scientists report.
Their work also found that the anti-inflammatory activity of this astrocyte subpopulation is dependent on interferon-gamma a molecule known to control immune and inflammatory responses produced by natural killer (NK) cells, another subset of immune cells.
Interestingly, the production of interferon-gamma by NK cells was seen to be controlled by the gut microbiome, the set of bacteria and other microbes that live in the gastrointestinal tract.
Plegridy as Intramuscular Injection for RRMS Approved in Europe 4.7 (11)
The European Commission (EC) has approved a new, intramuscular formulation of Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) to treat people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
This new mode of administration in which Plegridy is directly injected into the muscle, rather than under the skin (subcutaneously) does not compromise the therapy’s safety or effectiveness. Rather, this formulation might lower the incidence of injection site reactions, offering patients a reliable alternative to the therapy’s standard subcutaneous formulation.
“The availability of a new intramuscular route of administration offers individuals living with relapsing MS an additional choice of a platform therapy, combining the safety and efficacy of Plegridy, with the potential to significantly reduce injection site reactions,” Maha Radhakrishnan, MD, chief medical officer at Biogen, the developer of