title: Therapeutic potential of IL-27 in multiple sclerosis?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating neurological disease, characterized by inflammatory demyelination and axonal degeneration in the CNS. Currently approved therapies are partially effective, however safer and more effective treatments are needed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the therapeutic potential of the heterodimeric cytokine, IL-27 in MS, based on the current literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-27 exerts profound anti-inflammatory effects in several infectious and experimental autoimmune models. In particular, suppressive effects on helper T cells, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of MS, suggest that IL-27 may be therapeutically relevant in MS. However, while exciting discoveries have been made, further work is required particularly in human health and disease, to understand the diverse roles of IL-27 and its therapeutic potential.
authors.affiliation: Thomas Jefferson University, Suite 200 Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, 900 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors.forename: Denise C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: Abdolmohamad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rostami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17