Immunoglobulins Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis and Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Abstract

Intravenously administered immunoglobulins (IgG) treatment has several modes of action that can regulate the immune response during different steps of the inflammatory process in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The immunomodulatory effects IgG are largely dependent on their ability to interact with membrane molecules of lymphocytes and monocytes. Better understanding of these mechanisms of action in relation to the pathogenesis of MS, is important in order to decide the time of initiation and the duration of treatment in MS patients. In order to have the best beneficial effect on disease course, future research should focus on the initial events that activate the disease and on the early treatment modalities of IgG in MS.