title: Role of inflammation and apoptosis in multiple sclerosis: Comparative analysis between the periphery and the central nervous system.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex, multifactorial disease associated with damage to the axonal myelin sheaths and neuronal degeneration. The pathognomonic event in MS is oligodendrocyte loss accompanied by axonal damage, blood-brain barrier leakage, inflammation and infiltration of immune cells. The etiopathogenesis of MS is far from being elucidated. However, increasing evidence suggests that the inflammatory and apoptotic responses, occurring in patients either at the peripheral level or the central nervous system (CNS), can play a role. In this review, we give a comprehensive picture of general aspects of inflammation and apoptosis in MS, with special emphasis on the until now not well highlighted possible links between phenomena relevant to these aspects occurring in either the periphery or in the CNS during MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: macchi@med.uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Macchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Via F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy. Electronic address: fmarino@unime.it.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marino-Merlo
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; I.R.C.C.S. "Santa Lucia" Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: u.nocentini@hsantalucia.it.
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nocentini
authors.affiliation: I.R.C.C.S. "Santa Lucia" Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: v.pisani@hsantalucia.it.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Via F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy. Electronic address: salvator@unime.it.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cuzzocrea
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: grelli@med.uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Via F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; The Institute of Translational Pharmacology, CNR, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: antonio.mastino@ift.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mastino
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Apoptosis; Inflammation; Multiple sclerosis; Targeted therapy