title: Growth factors and myelin regeneration in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) are multifunctional growth factors which are found in the CNS. Oligodendroglia are the cells that form and maintain myelin sheaths and many in vitro experiments have shown that these growth factors promote the proliferation, differentiation and survival of cells in the oligodendroglial lineage. Since myelin breakdown is often severe in multiple sclerosis (MS), the possibility of growth factor use in the treatment of MS has been considered and recently, IGF-I treatment has been shown to reduce lesion severity and promote myelin regeneration in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. This review briefly summarizes the structural characteristics of these growth factors and the actions which might help reduce oligodendrocyte-myelin sheath injury in MS and promote myelin regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Neuropathology, NINDS, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002470:Cell Survival; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000502:physiology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D006133:Growth Substances; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I