Mount Sinai Researchers Identify Molecular Changes in the Brain that May Increase Risk for Multiple Sclerosis
First genome-wide study in brain tissue from MS patients.
Researchers have long suspected that a combination of genetic and environmental factors conspire in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that strips nerve cells of their protective myelin sheath. A new study, published today in the online issue of Nature Neuroscience, highlights some of the molecular pathways critical to the onset and progression of this disease.
The study, led by genomics experts at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, was the first to identify so-called epigenetic changes – modifications to our DNA caused by environmental factors such as diet or exposure to chemicals – across the entire genome. Epigenetic changes have been shown to influence the expression and function of genes.
"Previous studies have linked environmental factors, such as vitamin D levels and oxidative stress, to MS," said lead investigator Patrizia Casaccia, MD, PhD, Professor of Neuroscience, Department of Genetics and Genomics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "But earlier research was limited in terms of scope and focus. By looking for epigenetic changes across the entire genome, we were able to identify molecular pathways that are involved in the disease process."
The investigators used a sophisticated microarray to analyze levels of DNA methylation, an epigenetic modification that regulates gene function, in post-mortem, disease-free brain tissue from patients who had MS and from people who did not have the disease. The analysis, led by Andrew Sharp, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics and Genomics at the Icahn School of Medicine, revealed that tissue from MS patients had undergone a variety of subtle epigenetic changes that inhibit the formation of myelin and increase inflammation.
"Although subtle, these changes are significant in terms of their ability to increase a patient's risk for MS," said Dr. Sharp. "Looking at healthy brain tissue was critical to ensuring that the changes we observed were not due to the disease process itself."
"This study clearly demonstrates that the brains of MS patients harbor molecular changes, likely caused by environmental factors, that increase their susceptibility to the disease," said Dr. Casaccia. "Our findings constitute a disease signature that MS researchers can target to develop more effective medications for people with this neurological disease."
About the Mount Sinai Health System
Mount Sinai Health System is one of the nation’s leading integrated academic health systems and one of the largest in the New York metropolitan area. The Health System includes approximately 48,000 employees, more than 9,000 physicians, and 8,600 nurses across seven hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, over 600 research and clinical laboratories, a school of nursing, and schools of medicine and graduate school of biomedical sciences.
As a leading learning health system, Mount Sinai combines clinical expertise with scientific discovery to improve patient care while training the next generation of health care and biomedical leaders. The Health System provides care across every stage of life, from prenatal care through geriatrics, while advancing personalized medicine through artificial intelligence, data science, and biomedical research.
Mount Sinai is consistently recognized among the nation’s leading academic health systems for patient care, research, and education. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 1 in New York and recognized as one of the world’s top Smart Hospital by Newsweek. The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ranks No. 11 among U.S. medical schools for National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and No. 1 among freestanding medical schools, reflecting the strength of its scientific enterprise and leadership in biomedical research.
For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube. To listen to news and stories from Mount Sinai, visit the Mount Sinai Podcast Network.
Experimental mRNA Therapy Shows Potential to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Infections
Nov 26, 2025 View All Press Releases
Mount Sinai Researchers Uncover Why Some Leukemia Cells May Resist Treatment
Oct 30, 2024 View All Press Releases
New RNA-based Therapy Combats Melanoma in Mouse Models
Jul 27, 2023 View All Press Releases
Targeting One Type of Immune Cell With Another Slows Cancer Growth in Preclinical Studies
Oct 25, 2022 View All Press Releases