Antigen-specific therapy of multiple sclerosis: the long-sought magic bullet.
The adaptive immune response in multiple sclerosis (MS) targets various myelin proteins and even some inducible heat shock proteins. A few attempts have been made to tolerize relapsing-remitting patients with MS to either full-length myelin basic protein or to a key peptide epitope between residues 83-99. These trials have demonstrated that this approach may potentially provide benefit to patients with relapsing- remitting MS. However, manipulation of responses to myelin proteins can have deleterious effects. The immune response to myelin components is positioned at a key tipping point in the pathophysiology of the disease. Clarification of the key target antigens in MS, and better understanding of practical methods to attain tolerance to a wide variety of myelin and neuronal molecules will provide the basis for the ultimately successful antigen specific therapy.
Steinman
Lawrence
L
Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. steinman@stanford.edu
D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens; D000939:Epitopes; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein