The Immune System as a Target for Therapy of Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in Patients and Animal Models
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2024) | Viewed by 1866
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The pathophysiology of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is associated with an autoimmune chronic inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS), resulting in demyelination and neurodegeneration. The initial phase of the disease is presented by relapsing–remission, which, in most cases, is converted into secondary progressive MS (SPMS). A smaller number of patients (up to 15%) develop primary progressive MS (PPMS). In progressive MS (PMS), the relatively intact blood–brain barrier generates compartmentalized CNS immune inflammation, decorated by Ectopic Lymphoid Structures and characterized by accumulation of lymphocytes, macrophages and microglia. These cells release reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, leading to demyelination, axonal lesions and mitochondrial damage. While a relatively high number of disease-modifying therapies have shown efficacy in ameliorating relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS), the majority of these have been ineffective for PMS (e.g., copaxone, azathioprine) and the number of approved medications for PMS is very limited. The differential therapeutic effect between RRMS and PMS is possibly related to qualitative or quantitative differences in inflammatory phenotypes, e.g., distinct cell subpopulations, cytokines, profiles and inflammation sites. Analyzing these inflammatory phenotypes as well as other differences may help us to understand why beneficial medications are documented in RRMS, but not in PMS, what characteristics underline the few approved PMS medications, and how PMS drugs should be designed. The articles collected in this Special Issue of IJMS may enlighten us on these matters.
The scope of this issue is focused on the differential therapeutic effect between relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) and Progressive MS (PMS). This differance is possibly related to CNS qualitative or quantitative differences in inflammatory phenotypes, e.g., distinct cell subpopulations, cytokines, profile and inflammation sites, as well as in other parameters such as mitochondrial function, iron containment and enzymes profile. Analyzing these inflammatory phenotypes differences may help us to understand why beneficial medications are documented in RRMS but not in PMS, what characteristics underline the few approved PMS medications, and how PMS drugs should be designed.
Prof. Dr. David Naor
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- chronic inflammation
- immunology
- mouse models of progressive multiple sclerosis
- neurodegeneration
- progressive multiple sclerosis
- therapeutic targets
- translated medicine
- unmet needs of therapy
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.