The role of neurotrophic factors in the pathology and treatment of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of primary autoimmune origin with essential component of subsequent axonal degeneration. It has been found that inflammatory cells crucial for MS pathogenesis are able to release neurotrophic factors (NFs). Thus the concept of neuroprotective effect of inflammation has arisen. Over recent years, increasing number of studies has revealed that NFs play an important role in MS and its animal model — experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In the current review the evidence for the role of NFs in MS pathogenesis the same as their remarkable potential in MS therapy is presented.