[Role of autoimmunity in multiple sclerosis].
A number of evidences indicate that an antigen-specific immune reaction is responsible for the formation and/or the maintenance of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions. This disease is characterized by the following: 1), an infiltration of the white matter of the brain and spinal cord by inflammatory cells; 2), the T and B lymphocytes, present in the lesions or in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients, show signs of activation; i.e., the classic IgG oligoclonal bands of the cerebrospinal fluid (activation of B lymphocytes) and the presence of activation markers on the surface of the T lymphocytes; 3), the presence of an association, and a linkage between the disease and the genes of the HLA complex. The HLA molecules are implicated in the presentation of the antigen to the T lymphocytes; 4), finally, it should be noted that the therapeutic approaches aimed at reducing (immunosuppressants) or at modulating (beta-interferon, copolymer 1) the immune responses have a positive effect on this disease, whereas those treatments which activate the immune system (gamma-interferon) have a negative effect.
Chabas
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D
Groupe hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Liblau
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R
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D015551:Autoimmunity; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy
D006680:HLA Antigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents