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Critical Reviews™ in Immunology

ISSN for PRINT: 1040-8401

Institutional price:	$831.00
Issues per year:	6

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2002, Volume22

156 pages

Issue price - $264.00

Immune-Mediated Oligodendrocyte Injury in Multiple Sclerosis: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Interventions

Mieke Buntinx
Biomedisch Onderzoeksinstituut, Limburgs Universitair Centrum and School of Life Sciences, Transnational University Limburg, Universitaire Campus A, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium

Piet Stinissen
Biomedisch Onderzoeksinstituut, Limburgs Universitair Centrum and School of Life Sciences, Transnational University Limburg, Universitaire Campus A, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium

Paul Steels
Biomedisch Onderzoeksinstituut, Limburgs Universitair Centrum and School of Life Sciences, Transnational University Limburg, Universitaire Campus A, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium

Marcel Ameloot
Biomedisch Onderzoeksinstituut, Limburgs Universitair Centrum and School of Life Sciences, Transnational University Limburg, Universitaire Campus A, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium

Jef Raus
Biomedisch Onderzoeksinstituut, Limburgs Universitair Centrum and School of Life Sciences, Transnational University Limburg, Universitaire Campus A, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium

ABSTRACT

In this review, new insights into the immunopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) are discussed, with special focus on the potential mechanisms leading to neuroinflammation in MS—that is, the role of autoreactive T cells, infections, and neurodegenerative events. Oligodendrocytes are considered to be the target of autoimmune inflammation in the CNS of MS patients. Some important features of oligodendrocyte biology are discussed, together with the molecular mechanisms that are potentially involved in oligodendrocyte injury. These include injury mechanisms that might be executed by the adaptive and innate immune system, via cytokines and/or oligodendrocyte receptors, or as a consequence of nitrative and oxidative stress, and excitotoxicity. The mode of cell death of oligodendrocytes in MS is discussed, in addition to the mechanisms of axonal injury as observed in pathology- and imaging-based studies. Finally, recent progress in therapeutic strategies that may interfere with these pathological processes are reviewed, with a focus on repair strategies, such as gene therapy, antibody-mediated remyelination, and stem cell therapy.