Immune System and CMT article~>to Amelia

[Guest guest]

Amelia,

Here is another general abstract on the subject. It too is from this

year,and mentions CMT. ~ Gretchen

1: Neuromuscul Disord 2002 May;12(4):405-14

Immune mechanisms in acquired demyelinating neuropathies: lessons from

animal models.

Maurer M, Toyka KV, Gold R.

Department of Neurology, Section of Developmental Neurobiology,

Julius-Maximilians-Universitat, Wurzburg, Germany.

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is the target for a heterogenous

immune attack mediated by T-cells, B-cells, and macrophages. The

interaction of the humoral and cellular immune system with the

structural components in the peripheral nervous system may determine the

extent of inflammation and possibly repair mechanisms. The animal model

experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) allows detailed study of the

various effector pathways and tests novel therapeutic strategies in

vivo. Unexpectedly, involvement of the immune system is also found in

animal models for inherited neuropathies and in its human counterpart

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, suggesting an autoimmune reaction

triggered by the genetically determined demyelinating disorder. A better

understanding of immune regulation and its failure in the peripheral

nervous system may help to develop more specific and more effective

immunotherapies.