title: Inflammation in multiple sclerosis: the good, the bad, and the complex.
abstract: Inflammation has always been thought of as detrimental in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, emerging genetic data, magnetic-resonance-imaging studies, and immunopathological evidence challenge this simplistic view. The evidence leads to the conclusion that inflammation is tightly regulated, and that its net effect may be beneficial in MS, thus explaining some of the results from recent trials of anti-inflammatory agents. We argue that the use of anti-inflammatory drugs to treat MS may not be appropriate in all cases. Precise identification of the inflammatory pathways to be targeted in the different phases of the disease and the timing of such interventions are therefore crucial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. g.martino@hsr.it
authors.forename: Gianvito
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adorini
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rieckmann
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hillert
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kallmann
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Comi
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filippi
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007249:Inflammation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement