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The role of proinflammatory cytokines in multiple sclerosis

  • Conference paper
Advances in the Immunopathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

The pathological hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS) is the presence, within the central nervous system (CNS), of patchy inflammatory infiltrates leading to demyelination and axonal loss, and containing autoreactive T cells and pathogenic non-antigen-specific mononuclear cells [1]. It is currently believed that CNS antigen-reactive T cells provide the organ specificity of the pathogenic process. These cells regulate the recirculation within the CNS of non-antigen-specific lymphocytes and monocytes which act as effector cells by releasing myelinotoxic substances [2]. T cells specific for myelin and non-myelin components and mainly displaying the α/β T cell receptor (TCR) constitute the majority of the CNS-antigen specifc T cell population, while blood-borne activated macrophages, B cells producing antibodies against myelin components (i.e. myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein) or still unidentified components (i.e. oligoclonal cerebrospinal fluid bands), and γ/δ T cells represent the effector cell population. Nevertheless, the two different cell populations display overlapping functions; a minor proportion of α/β T cells specific for myelin antigens shows cytotoxic properties while γ/δ T cells can contribute to effector cell recruitment (mainly macrophages) via proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine production. To further complicate the T cell-mediated pathogenic scenario in MS, it has been recently reported that both regulatory as well as effector cells can be cross-regulated by different subsets of T cells including anti-T cell receptor (TCR) T cells as well as T cells carrying a natural killer receptor (NKR) [3].

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Authors
  1. R. Furlan
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  2. P. L. Poliani
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  3. A. Bergami
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  4. M. Gironi
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  5. G. Desina
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  6. G. Martino
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology and Neuroscience, Medical School, University G. D’Annunzio, Chieti, Italy

    D. Gambi , P. A. Muraro  & A. Lugaresi ,  & 

  2. Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA

    P. A. Muraro

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© 1999 Springer-Verlag Italia, Milan

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Furlan, R., Poliani, P.L., Bergami, A., Gironi, M., Desina, G., Martino, G. (1999). The role of proinflammatory cytokines in multiple sclerosis. In: Gambi, D., Muraro, P.A., Lugaresi, A., Ecari, U. (eds) Advances in the Immunopathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2269-0_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2269-0_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-0067-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-2269-0

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