Adhesion Molecules in Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract
MULTIPLE sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune neurological disease characterized by multifocal areas of inflammatory demyelination within the central nervous system (CNS). The binding of circulating autoreactive T cells and macrophages to the CNS endothelial cells and subsequent migration through the blood-brain barrier is an essential step in the initiation of brain inflammation.1,2 This step of immune cell entry into the site of inflammation is mediated by adhesion molecules.3 In the CNS, T cells are exposed to the sensitization antigen that triggers inflammation by cytokines released during immunorecognition.4 Adhesion molecules induced by such cytokines on brain cells and immune cells promote interaction between these cells, leading to damage of myelin and oligodendrocytes with subsequent demyelination.5