Compartmentalization of inflammation in the CNS: a major mechanism driving progressive multiple sclerosis

E Meinl, M Krumbholz, T Derfuss, A Junker… - Journal of the …, 2008 - Elsevier
In multiple sclerosis (MS) the CNS is not only the target of the pathological immune
response, but the CNS itself becomes an immunological compartment during the course of
the disease. This comprises (i) inflammation beyond classical white matter lesions,(ii)
intrathecal Ig production with oligoclonal bands,(iii) an environment fostering immune cell
persistence,(iv) follicle-like aggregates in the meninges,(v) a disruption of the blood-brain
barrier also outside of active lesions, which allows influx of autoantibodies possibly …