title: Azathioprine in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Azathioprine is an immunosuppressive and steroid-sparing purine analogue, used in the treatment of several autoimmune diseases. In multiple sclerosis, available evidence suggests that oral azathioprine reduces relapse rates, provides a slight benefit on disability, and reduces new inflammatory lesions. Here, we focus on molecular mechanisms of Azathioprine and on its usefulness in multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Visual Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurology, University of Verona, Piazzale L.A. Scuro 10, Verona, Italy. p_invernizzi@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Invernizzi
authors.forename: Maria Donata
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Benedetti
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monaco
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D015195:Drug Design; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000494:pharmacology; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy; D000069442:Natalizumab; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069442:Natalizumab; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D008780:Methyltransferases; C022745:thiopurine methyltransferase; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D001379:Azathioprine; D013110:Sphingosine; D008727:Methotrexate