title: Mechanisms of neurodegeneration and axonal dysfunction in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most frequent chronic inflammatory disease of the CNS, and imposes major burdens on young lives. Great progress has been made in understanding and moderating the acute inflammatory components of MS, but the pathophysiological mechanisms of the concomitant neurodegeneration--which causes irreversible disability--are still not understood. Chronic inflammatory processes that continuously disturb neuroaxonal homeostasis drive neurodegeneration, so the clinical outcome probably depends on the balance of stressor load (inflammation) and any remaining capacity for neuronal self-protection. Hence, suitable drugs that promote the latter state are sorely needed. With the aim of identifying potential novel therapeutic targets in MS, we review research on the pathological mechanisms of neuroaxonal dysfunction and injury, such as altered ion channel activity, and the endogenous neuroprotective pathways that counteract oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. We focus on mechanisms inherent to neurons and their axons, which are separable from those acting on inflammatory responses and might, therefore, represent bona fide neuroprotective drug targets with the capability to halt MS progression.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Molekulare Neurobiologie Hamburg, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Falkenried 94, D-20251 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Manuel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Friese
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Molekulare Neurobiologie Hamburg, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Falkenried 94, D-20251 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schattling
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Medical Research Council Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fugger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014855:Wallerian Degeneration / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers