Expert Review Logo
Welcome Guest user | Log in | Athens Login | Shibboleth Login | Register
Resources
Register
For Authors
For Librarians
For Advertisers
Services
Subscriptions/Pricing
Reprints
Advertising
Press Releases/News
Help
Downloads/Links
2008/9 Catalogue
Library Recommendation
Summary
March 2008, Vol. 8, No. 3, Pages 351-360 , DOI 10.1586/14737175.8.3.351
(doi:10.1586/14737175.8.3.351)

Perspective
DNA-based vaccines: the future of multiple sclerosis therapy?
Olaf Stüve, Petra D Cravens and Todd N Eagar
Author for correspondence



Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common human inflammatory, demyelinating and degenerative disorder of the CNS. Based mostly on work in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, CD4+ T cells were long thought to play the crucial role in MS pathogenesis. Only more recently has it been recognized that other effector cell types, including CD8+ T cells, γδ-T cells and B lymphocytes may also have an important role in disease initiation and perpetuation. The expression of soluble inflammatory mediators, including cytokines and free radicals, may be one of the late pathways mediating CNS tissue damage. In addition, in virtually all patients with MS, an oligoclonal banding pattern of antibodies can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, the cause of MS still remains unknown. Specifically, no single foreign or self antigen has been identified to account for clinical disease activity or the presence of surrogate disease markers. All approved pharmacotherapies have anti-inflammatory or immunoregulatory properties and work in early stages of the disease. In a recent clinical trial, BHT-3009, a DNA vaccine encoding full-length human myelin basic protein, was tested in patient with MS. BHT-3009 was safe and well tolerated. In addition, immunization with BHT-3009 induced anti-inflammatory antigen-specific immune changes consisting of a marked decrease in T-cell proliferation of IFNγ production and a reduction in titers of myelin-specific autoantibodies in the CSF. This review will discuss these intriguing observations and the overall potential of DNA vaccination in MS.

Full Text PDF (267 KB) PDF Plus (383 KB)

Users who read this article also read:

Treating multiple sclerosis with monoclonal antibodies
Mathias Buttmann, Peter Rieckmann
Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, Mar 2008, Vol. 8, No. 3, Pages 433-455.
Summary | Full Text | PDF (1720 KB) | PDF Plus (1778 KB) | Add to Favorites | Related 
Potential therapeutic role of statins in neurological disorders
Maurizio Bifulco, Anna Maria Malfitano, Giuseppe Marasco
Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, May 2008, Vol. 8, No. 5, Pages 827-837.
Summary | Full Text | PDF (290 KB) | PDF Plus (402 KB) | Add to Favorites | Related 
What’s in the pipeline for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease?
David B Sommer, Mark A Stacy
Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, Dec 2008, Vol. 8, No. 12, Pages 1829-1839.
Summary | Full Text | PDF (288 KB) | PDF Plus (326 KB) | Add to Favorites | Related 
Potential of old-generation antibiotics to address current need for new antibiotics
Matthew E Falagas, Alexandros P Grammatikos, Argyris Michalopoulos
Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy, Oct 2008, Vol. 6, No. 5, Pages 593-600.
Summary | Full Text | PDF (297 KB) | PDF Plus (364 KB) | Add to Favorites | Related 
 

Prev. Article | Next Article
View/Print PDF (267 KB)
View PDF Plus (383 KB)
Add to favorites
Email to a friend
TOC Alert | Citation Alert What is RSS?

 
 
Quick Search
for 
Authors:
Olaf Stüve
Petra D Cravens
Todd N Eagar
Keywords:
autoimmune disease
bystander suppression
clinical trial
deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
EAE
experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
immunization
MS
multiple sclerosis
pharmacotherapy
therapy
tolerance
treatment
vaccine


Expert Reviews Ltd, Unitec House, 2 Albert Place, London, N3 1QB, UK
Business Office: Tel +44 (0)20 8371 6080 · Fax +44 (0)20 8371 6099 
Editorial Office: Tel +44 (0)20 8371 6090 · Fax +44 (0)20 8343 2313
We welcome your Feedback. See our Privacy Statement and Terms and Conditions.