Present Day Technology
From these technology the next step in fighting Multiple Sclerosis is the creation of OBHT
Corticosteroids - Various types of hormones that reduce nerve inflammation. They are prescribed to patients to recover from MS related attacks. Depicted above is the corticosteroid, PredniSONE.
Plasmapheresis - A treatment process where blood is withdrawn for the patient's body and filtered and treated with protein solution before being reinserted into the patient's body. This treatment process allows for the removal of plasma from the blood, which contains autoimmune antibodies.
Mitoxantrone - Another treatment for MS; it is used only in severe cases of the disease due to the risk of causing blood cancer and heart damage. A form of chemotherapy.
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Relapse Treatments - Treatments such as Glatiramer acetate, Dimethyl Fumarate, Fingolimod, and Teriflunomide all reduce the relapse rates of MS, but have potential side effects such as liver damage, nausea, increased blood pressure, hair loss, or blurred vision.
Natalizumab - Another MS treatment; it blocks the movement of possibly harmful immune cells from the bloodstream to the brain. However, it risks possible viral infection as a result. Depicted above is an example of Natalizumab along with a diagram explaining its functionality.
Alemtuzumab - A treatment for MS; it targets the protein complexes on T cells that enable for T cells to activate and to identify pathogens. However, it leads to a weaker immune system increasing the risk of infections and other autoimmune disorders.
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Breakthroughs
Rhodopsin for H1-Receptors |
Pseudotyped Viral Envelope |
Light Frequency Communication System |
Currently, optogenetics has never been applied to Histamine-1 Receptors. This would have to change with the advent of OBHT. For starters channelrhodopsin would have to be manipulated so as to channel the movement of anions as well as cations since anions trigger H1-Receptors
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The OBHT project requires that rhodopsin be genetically encoded onto histamine-1 receptors on autoimmune T cells. In order to do this a viral vector needs to be inserted into these cells to splice the necessary DNA into place. This viral vector would need to be developed so as to specifically target autoimmune T cells, thus a viral envelope (the outer layer of a virus capsid that targets specific cells) would need to be created that contained the ideal chemical composure to attach and modify specifically MS infected leukocytes.
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Typically, in the status quo, optogenetic light sources use pre-programmed light pulsation patterns to administer their effect. In the OBHT project, we use a computer system that would allow pulsation patterns to be altered as the patient's condition progressed. To do so we would need to develop programming and the machinery for a communication system between a central patient database and a mini-computer chip planted on the light system in the brain.
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Moving OBHT into Human Cells
The most important breakthrough that would need to be devised would be the transfer of application of the otpogenetic technology from rodent cells into human cells. Current research into the effects of histamine on MS utilize rodent cells infected with the rodent version of MS, EAE. It would be possible to begin testing by isolating human leukocytes infected with MS, and collecting data on the effect of optogenetics on these cells. Using statistical tests such as a two sample T hypothesis test to compare the difference between the results of agonist induced histamine on EAE and optogenetic induced histamine on MS.