Immunoglobulin-mediated CNS repair

Our view of the immune system continues to evolve from a system dedicated p rimarily to defense against pathogens to a system that monitors the integri ty of the organism and aids in repair following damage. Repair following in jury to the central nervous system (CNS) is facilitated by both cellular an d Immoral components of the immune system Transfer of macrophages or T cell s activated against CNS antigens promote axon regrowth and protect axons fr om further damage. Animals immunized with spinal cord antigens and subseque ntly challenged with demyelination or transection of the spinal cord demons trate better repair than animals without prior immunization. In both experi mental systems, antibodies are the biologically active immune component. Hu man mAbs reactive to oligodendrocytes that arise in the absence of neurolog ic injury promote remyelination. These data support the hypothesis that B-c ell clones producing mAbs reactive to CNS epitopes are a normal part of the human antibody repertoire. They challenge the assertion that an immune res ponse to CNS antigens is pathogenic. Treatment with CNS-reactive human mAbs following CNS disease may facilitate CNS regeneration.