Advances in the Immunopathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis / Edition 1

by Domencio Gambi, Allesandra Lugaresi, Paolo A. Muraro

Overview

P.A. MURARO, A. LUGARESI, D. GAMBI Many of the pathological aspects of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions have been known for over a century. It is only recently, however, that different patterns of demyelination have been linked to distinct pathways of immune-mediated tissue destruction. In particular, the inter-individual heterogeneity of MS lesions has suggested that different mechanisms may act in different patients, accounting for the variability observed in clinical course, immunological findings in peripheral blood and cere­ brospinal fluid (CSF), and response to immunomodulatory treatments. To provide an overview of the basic mechanisms possibly involved in MS lesion initiation and development, an international meeting was organized in the context of the annual Congress of the Italian Neuroimmunology Association (AINI), held at the University of Chieti, in Chieti Italy on 29 October 1998. The high standard of presentations prompted us to report them in extended form, to highlight recent pro­ gress in the understanding of basic mechanisms sustaining MS immuno­ pathogenesis. A central role in the possible mechanisms leading to myelin destruc­ tion has been attributed to T lymphocytes reactive to myelin antigens. Studies on the myelin antigen-specific T cell repertoire have contributed significant advances to our knowledge of autoimmunity (Chapters 1,2).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9788847000674
Publisher:	Springer Milan
Publication date:	08/13/1999
Edition description:	1999
Pages:	90
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.01(d)

About the Author

Gambi, D. (Univ G. D'Annunzio); Muraro, P.A. (Univ G. D'Annunzio); Lugaresi, A. (Univ G. D'Annunzio)

Table of Contents

1 — The affinity spectrum of myelin basic protein-reactive T cells.- 2 — The naïve and memory MBP-reactive CD4+ T cell repertoire: implications for the autoimmune concept in multiple sclerosis.- 3 — From specificity to degeneracy to molecular mimicry: antigen recognition of human autoreactive and pathogen-specific CD4+ T cells.- 4 — Immune activation in the interface between innate immunity and adaptive response: in vitro studies and therapeutical implications.- 5 — Neuronal control of the immunological microenvironment in the CNS: implications on neuronal cell death and survival.- 6 — Levels of platelet-activating factor in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.- 7 — The contribution of magnetic resonance imaging to the understanding of multiple sclerosis pathogenesis.- 8 — The role of proinflammatory cytokines in multiple sclerosis.- 9 — Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the common marmoset Callithrixjacchus.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Daniel B. Hier, MD (University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine)
Description: This is a slim summary of presentations made at the Annual Congress of the Italian Neuroimmunology Association during October 1998 on the topic of immunopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS).
Purpose: The editors have sought to provide a detailed meeting summary in the form of technical and authoritative reviews.
Audience: This will be of primary interest to active investigators working on the immunopathogenesis of MS lesions. General neurologists and clinical specialists in multiple sclerosis will find this of interest only if they are well-grounded in the immunological basis of multiple sclerosis.
Features: The primary theme of the conference was the role of the T cell in producing the MS plaque. Additional contributions deal with the basis of the MRI lesion and experimental models of MS.
Assessment: This is a highly technical, authoritative group of reviews from MS specialists largely from Italy and Germany. It provides an excellent summary of current thinking as to the role of the T cell in the immunopathogenesis of MS. It will appeal primarily to active researchers.

Doody's Review Service

3 Stars from Doody