title: New immunopathologic insights into multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Although the immune system seems to play an important role in the pathogenesis of disease, target antigens are still uncertain and pathways leading to tissue destruction have not been fully elucidated. Recent studies have significantly contributed to a better understanding of the disease process and broadened our view on possible scenarios of disease initiation and progression. We review the role of the immune system for the manifestation and evolution of MS and discuss different pathogenetic concepts. We conclude with an outlook on future strategies to identify the cause of MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Moorenstrasse 5, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hemmer
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kieseier
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cepok
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hartung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000502:physiology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000276:immunology; D020721:Nervous System Autoimmune Disease, Experimental; D018570:Risk Assessment