title: Mechanism of action of glatiramer acetate in treatment of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Glatiramer acetate (GA) (Copolymer-1, Copaxone, Teva, Israel, YEAK) is a polypeptide-based therapy approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Most investigations have attributed the immunomodulatory effect of GAs to its capability to alter T-cell differentiation. Specifically, GA treatment is believed to promote development of Th2-polarized GA-reactive CD4(+) T-cells, which may dampen neighboring inflammation within the central nervous system. Recent reports indicate that the deficiency in CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) regulatory T-cells in multiple sclerosis is restored by GA treatment. GA also exerts immunomodulatory activity on antigen presenting cells, which participate in innate immune responses. These new findings represent a plausible explanation for GA-mediated T-cell immune modulation and may provide useful insight for the development of new and more effective treatment options for multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Program in Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Martin S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hohlfeld
authors.forename: Scott S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Zamvil
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018448:Models, Immunological; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010455:Peptides; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate