Certain antibiotics inhibit the body's defenses.
A new approach to treating autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) may be derived from this finding.
Scientists at the University of Mainz have shown this.
The researchers tested the effects of the antibiotic linezolid on mice with an MS-like disease.
Sascha Zoske
Journalist in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.
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As it turned out, the drug was able to significantly reduce symptoms.
Linezolid affects the function of a certain type of immune cell that produces the messenger substance interleukin-17.
This signal substance promotes inflammation and plays an important role in autoimmune diseases.
Linezolid itself is not suitable for treating MS because it is intended to be used as a reserve antibiotic only to fight multi-drug resistant bacteria.
The Mainz scientists found out, however, that a peptide called argyrin C has a similar effect.
Whether the substance can actually be used for MS therapy would first have to be investigated in clinical studies.
Another working group at Mainz University Medicine has also found new evidence that interleukin-17 is of great importance for intestinal health.
This would have to be considered in treatments aimed at eliminating this messenger substance.
Link to the publication "Linezolid"
Link to the publication "Interleukin-17"