Displaying One Session

Plenary Session Sun, Sep 13, 2020
Session Type
Plenary Session
Date
Sun, Sep 13, 2020
Time (ET)
14:30 - 15:30
Invited Presentations Invited Abstracts

PL02.01 - New Insights on Immunopathogenesis

Speakers
Authors
Presentation Number
PL02.01
Presentation Topic
Invited Presentations
Lecture Time
14:30 - 15:15

Abstract

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is a complex disease in which the innate and adaptive immune systems play a fundamental role. Treatment with disease-modifying therapies reduces relapses of neurologic symptoms (Bittner and Zipp, Nat Rev Neurol 2018). However, it does not stop overall disease progression and most patients eventually develop the secondary chronic progressive form of the disease (Larochelle et al., Trends Neurosci 2016). Immune modulatory therapies have given us novel insights into disease pathology, for example, that long-neglected B cells play a relevant role or that early consequent treatment in the relapsing phase of the disease is able to prevent a later conversion into a secondary progressive disease course. Novel blood-based biomarkers such as neurofilaments might not only facilitate patient treatment stratification (Bittner et al., EBioMedicine 2020), but also illustrate the relevance of axonal damage starting from the very first phases of MS. This highlights a need for new avenues of research that address the problem of progression in a fundamentally different way. We will critically discuss current pathophysiological models of progressive disease, e.g., the involvement of the adaptive versus innate immune system, immune-independent neurodegenerative pathways, repair mechanisms and higher network alterations. A special focus will be put on CNS-intrinsic pathways, the complex interplay between immune cells, glial cells and neurons within the CNS parenchyma, and its impact on brain function in health and disease.

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