INFLAMMATORY EVENTS AT THE BLOOD-BRAIN-BARRIER - REGULATION OF ADHESION MOLECULES, CYTOKINES, AND CHEMOKINES BY REACTIVE NITROGEN AND OXYGEN SPECIES

Recruitment of inflammatory cells into the CNS during pathological pro cesses associated with neurodegeneration, trauma, autoimmune disease, and infection involves the generation of signaling molecules that are both cell-associated and soluble. Alteration in the permeability of th e blood brain barrier, adhesion of blood-borne leukocytes to cerebral vessels, activation of chemoattractants and their receptors, and migra tion of inflammatory cells into the CNS are events that have been prop osed to be regulated by cytokines and reactive oxygen and nitrogen spe cies. In this review we propose associative connections between these events and the molecules involved as they may relate to CNS inflammati on, placing illustrative emphasis on multiple sclerosis and the animal model for MS, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. (C) 1997 Acade mic Press.