title: Identification of inflammatory neuronal injury and prevention of neuronal damage in multiple sclerosis: hope for novel therapies?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although multiple sclerosis (MS) has long been considered the prototype for an inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, modern histopathology and imaging techniques show that significant damage to neuronal structures already start occurring in the earliest stages of the disease. As the disease progresses, the extent of neuronal pathology accumulates. Therapeutic progress in terms of the prevention of increased disability has only just begun.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review possible diagnostic improvements of neuronal compartment pathology as well as direct therapeutic interventions based on reports from the last decade and outline clinical results from studies and perspectives on the progression of MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature search focused on publications and the references contained therein, relating to neuronal compartment pathology and direct therapeutic interventions published in the last decade in well-established peer-reviewed journals. The quality of the cited works was ensured by their acceptance by peer review, participation in clinical trials, and authors' own expert assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Current MS therapies as well as medications that are in late phase 3 trials or under approval exhibit primarily anti-inflammatory properties. However, clinical and imaging data demonstrate the potential of using novel therapies to prevent neuronal damage. Whether these exhibit effects on the neuronal compartment due to interference with the immune system or additional direct effects depends without question on the specific mechanism of action.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combining anti-inflammatory and direct neuroprotective, neuroregenerative/repair therapy strategies may open up new avenues in the treatment of MS.
authors.affiliation: Focus Program Translational Neurosciences (FTN), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network, Department of Neurology (rmn2), University Medical Center of the Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Frauke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zipp
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, St Josef-Hospital/Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wiendl
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents