Targeting apoptosis to treat multiple sclerosis.
Accumulating evidence implicates a failure of myelin-reactive immune cells to undergo apoptosis in the pathological events contributing to multiple sclerosis (MS). We have recently demonstrated that members of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family of anti-apoptotic genes are elevated in peripheral blood immune cells (monocytes, T cells) of patients with aggressive forms of MS (secondary progressive) or those with relapsing-remitting MS suffering a disease replase. These findings suggest that the IAPs may be novel diagnostic markers for distinguishing subtypes of MS. Moreover, antisense-mediated knockdown of the IAP family member known as X-linked IAP (XIAP) reverses paralysis in an animal model of MS suggesting that treatments targeting XIAP, and perhaps other IAPs, may have utility in the treatment of MS.
Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, 5850 College Street, Halifax, NS B3H 1X5, Canada.
Andrea L O
AL
Hebb
Craig S
CS
Moore
Virender
V
Bhan
George S
GS
Robertson
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins