Translational Neuroimmunology in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common disabling neurological disease of young adults. More than 2.3 million people are affected by MS worldwide. Symptoms can vary widely, depending on the localization and amount of the damage induced by combined inflammatory, demyelinating, and neurodegenerative processes. Although a cure for MS does not currently exist, therapies can help treat MS attacks, attenuate disease activity, reduce progress of the disease, and manage symptoms.

Translational Neuroimmunology in Multiple Sclerosis provides an overview of recent findings and knowledge of the neuroimmunology of multiple sclerosis, from experimental models and the human disease to the translation of this research to immunotherapeutic strategies. Chapters describe genetic and environmental factors underlying the disease pathogenesis of MS as a basis for development of immunotherapies, immunological markers of disease activity, pharmacogenetics, and responses to therapy. Immunomodulatory therapies currently in practice and future therapeutic strategies on the horizon—such as neuroprotective strategies, stem cells, and repair promotion—are discussed. Contributed by renowned leaders in the field, this cross-disciplinary volume is a great resource for basic scientists and clinical practitioners in neuroscience, neurology, immunology, pharmacology, and in-drug development.

• Provides an overview of recent findings and knowledge of the neuroimmunology of multiple sclerosis and the translation of this research to immunotherapy treatment
• Edited by renowned leaders in the field of neuroimmunology and multiple sclerosis
• Contains the latest resource material for basic and clinical scientists and practitioners in neuroscience, neurology, immunology, and pharmacology
• 2017 BMA Medical Book Awards Highly Commended in Neurology

Basic and clinical scientists and practitioners in neuroscience, neurology, immunology, and pharmacology

Section I:  MS Pathology and Mechanisms
1. MS Pathology: Inflammation versus Neurodegeneration
2. Immune Dysregulation in Multiple Sclerosis
3. CNS immune regulation
4. Genetics of Multiple Sclerosis
5. MS Subtypes: How the Natural History of MS was Challenged Due to Treatment
6. Pediatric-Onset MS as a Window into Early Disease Targets and Mechanisms
7. Sex-related factors in multiple sclerosis

Section II:  Other Patho-Mechanisms
8. Environmental Factors and their regulation of immunity in MS
9. Gut Microbiota in Multiple Sclerosis: A Bioreactor driving Brain Autoimmunity
10. Neuroendocrine Checkpoints of Innate Immune Responses in Multiple Sclerosis: Reciprocal Interactions Between Body and Brain
11. Fighting chronic neuroinflammation by boosting autoimmunity: the distinction between neurodegenerative diseases and multiple sclerosis
12. Neuroactive steroids and Neuroinflammation

Section III:  Surrogate Markers in Multiple Sclerosis
13. Surrogate Markers in Multiple Sclerosis: The Role of MRI

Section IV:  Currently Approved Therapies – Injectable
14. Interferon β in Multiple Sclerosis: A Review
15. Glatiramer Acetate - From Bench to Bed and Back
16. Natalizumab
17. Alemtuzumab (Campath-1H)
18. Currently approved DMDs-injectable: cytotoxic immunosuppressive drugs

Section V:  Currently Approved DMDs – Oral
19. Fingolimod (Gilenya)
20. Oral Dimethyl Fumarate (BG-12; Tecfidera®) for Multiple Sclerosis
21. Emerging Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis

Section VI:  Symptomatic and Complementary Treatments
22. Treatment of acute relapses in Multiple sclerosis
23. Shedding light on Vitamin D and MS
24. Symptomatic and Complementary Treatments
25. Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis

Section VII:  Novel and Emerging Strategies
26. Personalized Medicine and Theranostics: Applications to Multiple Sclerosis
27. Stem cell based-therapies, remyelination and repair promotion, in the treatment of multiple sclerosis
28. Stem cells in Multiple Sclerosis
29. T cell vaccination: An insight into T cell regulation
30. Reversal of Misfortune: Therapeutic Strategies on the Horizon