Cytokines in EAE and MS
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文摘
Cytokines play an essential role in the pathogenesis of EAE and MS. One of the initial steps in the chain of pathogenetic events is the migration of activated autoimmune T cells from the periphery into the central nervous system (CNS). Once arrived in the CNS microenvironment, the T cells recognize “their” antigen (e.g., MBP, PLP, MOG, S-100-β, etc.) on local antigen-presenting cells. After antigen-induced activation, the T cells produce a plethora of cytokines and inflammatory mediators that have profound effects on the local cellular environment. The cytokines induce and recruit additional inflammatory cells, including macrophages that also produce proinflammatory cytokines. Some cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and lymphotoxin, directly contribute to myelin damage. An increasingly detailed knowledge of these processes will greatly facilitate the development of new immunotherapies.