Global immune disregulation in multiple sclerosis: from the adaptive response to the innate immunity

Increasing evidences show a global immune disregulation in multiple scleros is (MS). The possible involvement of myelin and non-myelin (auto-)antigens in the autoaggressive process as well as the disregulation of both adaptive and innate immunity challenge the concept of specific immunotherapy. T cel ls at the boundary between innate and adaptive immunity. whose immunoregula tory role is becoming increasingly clear, have recently been shown to bear relevance for MS pathogenesis. Global immune interventions land type I inte rferons may be considered as such) aimed at interfering with both innate an d acquired immune responses seem to be a most promising therapeutic option in MS. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.