Disruptions in Circadian Rhythms as a Risk Factor for MS

Start Term
End Term
Funding Amount
$300,000
Geographic Region(s) / Province(s)
Ontario
Researcher(s)
Dr. Nader Ghasemlou
Research Priorities
Repair/Remyelination
Impact Goal(s)
Understand and Halt Disease Progression

Affiliation(s): Queen's University at Kingston

Summary:  

  • Disruptions to circadian rhythms, the body’s internal clock that regulates vital functions, have been identified as a potential risk factor for MS.  

  • Dr. Nader Ghasemlou and team will examine how MS-like disease in mice disrupts circadian-related processes including immune cell function, and how changes in environmental cues and circadian genes can impact disease symptoms and severity.  

  • This research could lead to new treatment strategies for managing MS by restoring circadian rhythms in people living with MS through simple lifestyle modifications.  

Project Description:  

Circadian rhythms are the body’s natural 24-hour clock that helps regulate essential biological processes like sleep, metabolism, hormone levels, body temperature, and the immune system. Disruptions to circadian rhythms can affect a variety of tissues and organs in the body, and have been identified as a potential risk factor for MS. 

Preliminary data from Dr. Nader Ghasemlou’ s laboratory found that in a mouse model of MS, known as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the MS-like disease disrupts circadian rhythms in the mice. They also discovered that the disease worsens if they caused artificial circadian disruptions by altering light exposure. In the present study, the researchers will further examine how EAE affects immune cell function and other circadian-related processes in a mouse model of MS. They will also confirm whether disruptions to environmental and genetic rhythms can impact MS symptoms and severity. 

Potential Impact: This research has the potential to lead to novel therapeutic strategies for managing MS. Restoring circadian rhythms may present a new and easy strategy of regulating immune response and disease activity through simple lifestyle modifications (e.g., through diet, exercise, sleeping, etc.). 

Project Status: In Progress