Trends in Neuroimmunology

ISBN-13: 9781461278894 / Angielski / Miękka / 2011 / 169 str.

Maria Giovanna Marrosu; Carlo Cianchetti; Bruno Tavolato

Opis

Immunology has developed quite impressively over the past decade and perhaps very few fields in medicine or biology have grown so explosively. Completely new fields have been elucidated in depth. We recall only the definition of the nature and function of RLA antigens at the molecular level. the chemical and functional identification of several cytokines. and the correlation to particular immunological functions of specific epitopes present on cellular mem- branes. The extensive application of immunological techniques and concepts to the neurological sciences has led to the development of neuroimmunology. a disci- pline in its infancy until few years ago. In these last years. neuroimmunology has developed researches in various fields. RLA antigens were studied at the cellular level in brain samples and in CSF cells in several diseases. Cytokines. such as interleukin 1 and 2. gamma- and alpha-interferons. and tumor necrosis factor alpha. were studied at the immunohistological level and with quantitative methods in serum and CSF. With these data. new relevant insights were obtained on the molecular mechanisms underlying CNS immunological diseases. Moreover. neuroimmunological researches were carried on through the development of new and more 'specific' technologies for the study of natural and experimental diseases. the most important of which seem to be. at present. the techniques of cell cultures for cell lines specific to the CNS (oligodendrocytes. astroglia. microglia. meningeal cells. brain capillary cells and tumor cells).

Spis treści

Humoral Immunologic Studies in Cerebrospinal Fluid.- A New Strategy for the Study of Intrathecal Immunity.- Immunological Findings in the CSF of HIV-1 Infected Patients.- Disease Duration, Relapse Rate and Clinical Course in Multiple Sclerosis. Relation to IgG Production within the Blood-brain Barrier.- On the Intrathecal Synthesis of Immunoglobulins: Detection of BSF-1/IL-6 in CSF.- Cell Studies.- B-Cell Response Evaluated at Cellular Level in CSF and Blood in Multiple Sclerosis and Controls.- Antioligodendrocyte Autoreactive T Cells.- Imbalance of CSF Lymphocyte Subsets in Multiple Sclerosis.- Functional Characteristics and Phenotypic Markers of T Lymphocyte Clones from CSF in Multiple Sclerosis.- Multiple Sclerosis: Lymphocyte Responses to CNS Antigens.- Immune Functions of Glia.- Immunoregulation in the Central Nervous System: Detection of Cytokines in CSF.- Immunocompetent-like Cells in Human Fetal Brain Cultures.- Role of Astroglial Cells in Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis.- Spontaneous Expression of Ia Antigen (HLA-DR) in Cultured Cells of Human Fetal Brain at Different Stages of Gestation.- Expression of Ia Antigen in the Course of Acute and Relapsing Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis in the Lewis Rat.- Central Nervous System Diseases and the Immune System.- The Use of the Polymerase Chain Reaction in the Search for a Persistent Virus in Multiple Sclerosis: HTLV-1.- Immunological Parameters in Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis and the Effect of Intraventricular Interferon.- Possible Implications of the Cellular Component of the Immune System in the Pathogenesis of Unconventional Slow Virus Infections.- Intrathecal Immune Response in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.- Compartmentalization of B Cell Response to CSF in Lyme Disease with Neurological Manifestations.- Author Index.