title: The mechanism of action of methylprednisolone in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Methylprednisolone plays an important role in the current treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly in the acute phase of relapse. It acts in various ways to decrease the inflammatory cycle including: dampening the inflammatory cytokine cascade, inhibiting the activation of T cells, decreasing the extravasation of immune cells into the central nervous system, facilitating the apoptosis of activated immune cells, and indirectly decreasing the cytotoxic effects of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor alpha. This paper reviews the most recent observations on these mechanisms both to understand the disease mechanism and its treatment. As more becomes known about these mechanisms, it may become possible to design treatment regimes that are more specific towards both the individual and the disease state.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine (Neurology), Memorial University of Newfoundland, NL, Canada. p97jss@mun.ca
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sloka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stefanelli
mesh_terms: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D008775:Methylprednisolone