T-cells in multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a multifocal demyelinating disease of the central nervous system pathologically characterized by lesions of infiltrating macrophages and T cells. Multiple lines of evidence implicate that T cells play a central role in both mediating and regulating MS pathophysiology, and efforts to develop rational therapeutic strategies for MS have focused on understanding factors which control T cell function. T cells are a highly heterogeneous population comprised of multiple cell subtypes which mediate both adaptive immunity and specific tolerance. Much has been learned about the molecular signals that induce T cell activation and differentiation, and several effective treatments for MS act by altering these activation and differentiation pathways. In recent years, increasing recognition has been given to T cell subsets which serve immunosuppressive or regulatory functions, and it has been discovered that patients with MS have a functional defect in these cells. Current work is beginning to shed light on interactions of pathogenic and regulatory T cells with the intrinsic cells of the CNS to provide a more comprehensive picture of MS pathogenesis.
Severson
Christopher
C
Division of Molecular Immunology, Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Woman's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Hafler
David A
DA
D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology