title: Insights into the immunopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Significant progress has been made in our understanding of the etiology of MS. MS is widely believed to be an autoimmune disease that results from aberrant immune responses to CNS antigens. T cells are considered to be crucial in orchestrating an immunopathological cascade that results in damage to the myelin sheath. This review summarizes the currently available data supporting the idea that myelin reactive T cells are actively involved in the immunopathogenesis of MS. Some of the therapeutic strategies for MS are discussed with a focus on immunotherapies that aim to specifically target the myelin reactive T cells.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute, Limburg University Center, School for Life Sciences, Transnational University Diepenbeek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hellings
authors.forename: Jef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raus
authors.forename: Piet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stinissen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens; D015551:Autoimmunity; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000276:immunology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D016207:Cytokines; D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell