title: [Natalizumab: an antibody targeting α4-integrin].
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS), in which inflammation develops upon leukocyte invasion into the CNS via the blood-brain barrier. α4-Integrin is an important cell adhesion molecule involved in the penetration process. Natalizumab is an α4-integrin-targeting monoclonal antibody that was recently approved for use as a disease-modifying therapy for MS in Japan. In this article, the mechanism of action, efficacy, and side effects of natalizumab will be reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Keio University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakahara
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D039441:Integrin alpha4 / Q000276:immunology*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000069442:Natalizumab; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069442:Natalizumab; D039441:Integrin alpha4