Current treatment strategies for multiple sclerosis are immunomodulatory, either preventing activation, proliferation, or extravasation of immune cells into the central nervous system. These treatments reduce the number of relapses and improve quality of life early in the disease course, however, neurodegeneration and permanent disability ultimately give rise to progressive decline. Mechanisms driving neurodegeneration are necessary for the advancement of pharmacological strategies and while animals have served well in addressing inflammatory responses in MS it is unclear how they will advance therapies for progressive disease. This Research Topic will explore the complex nature of the MS disease course gained from various imaging modalities and post-mortem brain and spinal cord studies in light of current models of MS and how they represent or misrepresent this multifaceted disease.
There are several unanswered questions in the pathogenesis of MS that are necessary for advancing future therapeutic strategies for MS. The goal of this Research Topic is to openly discuss how various animal models represent different mechanisms of MS disease pathology and their instrumental role in developing current therapies as well as their limitations. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of animal models in the study of MS in relation to unmet needs will provide a thought-provoking discussion on the future of MS research. This collection of research articles will address the interplay of innate and adaptive immune responses driving relapsing-remitting versus progressive neurodegeneration as well as their role in driving demyelination and remyelination. These ideas will then be culminated into the impact on pharmacological therapies and the relevance of biomarker development in monitoring disease progression.
• Can active progressive MS be studied in animal models?
• Are animal models feasible for developing new pharmacological therapies for MS?
• Will the development of biomarkers enhance our understanding of MS pathogenesis?
• Can neurocognitive changes in MS be captured in animal models?
• Are animal models useful in studying the causal and temporal relationship between inflammation and neurodegeneration in MS?
• Can animal models be used to study immune-senescence?
• Can the pathogenic role of B cells be studied in an animal model?
• What can the visual system tell us about MS disease progression?
• How are remyelinating therapies studied in animal models relevant to MS?
Current treatment strategies for multiple sclerosis are immunomodulatory, either preventing activation, proliferation, or extravasation of immune cells into the central nervous system. These treatments reduce the number of relapses and improve quality of life early in the disease course, however, neurodegeneration and permanent disability ultimately give rise to progressive decline. Mechanisms driving neurodegeneration are necessary for the advancement of pharmacological strategies and while animals have served well in addressing inflammatory responses in MS it is unclear how they will advance therapies for progressive disease. This Research Topic will explore the complex nature of the MS disease course gained from various imaging modalities and post-mortem brain and spinal cord studies in light of current models of MS and how they represent or misrepresent this multifaceted disease.
There are several unanswered questions in the pathogenesis of MS that are necessary for advancing future therapeutic strategies for MS. The goal of this Research Topic is to openly discuss how various animal models represent different mechanisms of MS disease pathology and their instrumental role in developing current therapies as well as their limitations. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of animal models in the study of MS in relation to unmet needs will provide a thought-provoking discussion on the future of MS research. This collection of research articles will address the interplay of innate and adaptive immune responses driving relapsing-remitting versus progressive neurodegeneration as well as their role in driving demyelination and remyelination. These ideas will then be culminated into the impact on pharmacological therapies and the relevance of biomarker development in monitoring disease progression.
• Can active progressive MS be studied in animal models?
• Are animal models feasible for developing new pharmacological therapies for MS?
• Will the development of biomarkers enhance our understanding of MS pathogenesis?
• Can neurocognitive changes in MS be captured in animal models?
• Are animal models useful in studying the causal and temporal relationship between inflammation and neurodegeneration in MS?
• Can animal models be used to study immune-senescence?
• Can the pathogenic role of B cells be studied in an animal model?
• What can the visual system tell us about MS disease progression?
• How are remyelinating therapies studied in animal models relevant to MS?