Mecanismos inmunológicos relacionados con la progresión asociada a la edad en la esclerosis múltiple

Abstract

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the Central Nervous System (CNS) characterized by inflammation, demyelination and axonal damage, and it is the major cause of disability in young adults in the western countries. In the first phase, the adaptive immunity plays an important role in MS. Aging associates with a reduction of the relapse rate, the number of active lesions in the white matter, and the number of infiltrating lymphocytes within the CNS; although paradoxically patient disability increases. In addition, it is related to a decrease in the efficacy of the current treatments, which are mainly focused on adaptive immunity; and with a greater risk of suffering serious side effects associated with these therapies...