Nervous and immune system disorders in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is probably an acquired infectious disease with an autoimmune response relating to damage to the white matter of the central nervous system. There is evidence of continued intrathecal synthesis of oligoclonal antibody and there are perivascular inflammatory cell infiltrates close to areas of demyelination in the central nervous system. Following adoptive transfer, cells sensitized to the myelin basic protein can cause demyelinating disease in rodent recipients. Unlike the peripherally-mediated immune changes in the experimental model it is argued that autoaggressive cells are generated within the CNS in multiple sclerosis. The possible mechanism of cellular demyelination is discussed and the implication for therapy is reviewed.