The present invention refers to an in vitro method for detecting the presence of demyelinating diseases in an individual, for determining the stage or severity of said diseases in the individual, or for monitoring the effect of the therapy administered to an individual suffering said diseases; to the search, identification, development and evaluation of efficacy of compounds for therapy of said diseases for the purpose of developing new drugs; as well as to agents inhibiting DUSP6 protein expression and/or activity, and/or the effects of this expression. The methods and agents of the invention are preferably applied to multiple sclerosis.