Optic Neuritis in Multiple Sclerosis—A Review of Molecular Mechanisms Involved in the Degenerative Process

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is a central nervous system inflammatory demyelinating disease with a wide range of clinical symptoms, ocular involvement being frequently marked by the presence of optic neuritis (ON). The emergence and progression of ON in multiple sclerosis is based on various pathophysiological mechanisms, disease progression being secondary to inflammation, demyelination, or axonal degeneration. Early identification of changes associated with axonal degeneration or further investigation of the molecular processes underlying remyelination are current concerns of researchers in the field in view of the associated therapeutic potential. This article aims to review and summarize the scientific literature related to the main molecular mechanisms involved in defining ON as well as to analyze existing data in the literature on remyelination strategies in ON and their impact on long-term prognosis.

Optic neuritis after mRNA COVID‐19 vaccination: a case report

“…4,9 Here, an autoimmune response leading to bilateral ON was triggered by mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, while it is difficult to prove the association with the causation of vaccines. 2,3,6,7 F I G U R E 1 Ophthalmological examination revealed counting fingers in both eyes.…”

“…Here, an autoimmune response leading to bilateral ON was triggered by mRNA COVID‐19 vaccination, while it is difficult to prove the association with the causation of vaccines 2,3,6,7 …”

“…Many factors may play a role in its pathogenesis like trauma, demyelination, infection, autoimmunity, and granulomatous. 2 Previous researches revealed that some vaccinations against influenza, polio, tetanus, and others may cause ON. 3 We present a case of bilateral ON, leading to blindness related to the mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.…”

“…Optic neuritis (ON) presented by sudden visual loss and orbital pain. Many factors may play a role in its pathogenesis like trauma, demyelination, infection, autoimmunity, and granulomatous 2 . Previous researches revealed that some vaccinations against influenza, polio, tetanus, and others may cause ON 3 …”

Shipment Stress in Early Life Aggravates Disease Pathogenesis in Mice with Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis: Support for a Two-Hit Hypothesis of Multiple Sclerosis Etiology

“…A major source of disability that is commonly seen with a female preponderance ratio in MS patients is optic neuritis (Ciapă et al, 2022;Redler & Levy, 2020;Sarrazin et al, 2022). Optic neuritis is a demyelinating disorder characterized by inflammation of the optic nerve, and clinical presentation of vision defects such as unilateral loss of visual acuity, visual field and color vision deficits, and decreased contrast (Redler & Levy, 2020).…”