In this issue of the Archives, Bar-Or and coworkers1 report on a successful attempt to induce antigen-specific tolerance with a DNA encoding myelin basic protein (MBP) vaccine in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Two questions immediately arise: (1) why vaccinate patients with MS with a self antigen, and (2) why use a DNA plasmid vaccine?
Multiple sclerosis is the most common inflammatory, demyelinating, and neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) in humans. A pathological hallmark of MS is the infiltration of leukocytes into the brain and spinal cord. Not surprisingly, controlling the migration of T cells, B cells, and other immunocompetent myeloid cells into the brain and spinal cord has been a major target of drug development over the last 15 years. Substantial evidence for the role of myelin-specific T cells in CNS demyelinating disorders has been derived from investigations of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the archetypal model for MS.2 Specifically, activated CD4+ T cells that recognize one of several myelin antigens mediate EAE, causing relapsing paralysis and CNS inflammation. Given this knowledge, why would an immunization with a CNS autoantigen possibly be a good treatment strategy?
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Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature
Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal
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