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Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Induction of Paralysis and Visual System Injury in Mice by T Cells Specific for Neuromyelitis Optica Autoantigen Aquaporin-4
Published on: August 21, 2017
Treatment of neuromyelitis optica: current debate
Tomoko Okamoto1, Masafumi Ogawa, Youwei Lin
1Department of Neurology, Musashi Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease that largely affects optic nerves and spinal cord. Recent studies have identified an elevation of serum anti-aquaporin 4 antibody as a hallmark of NMO. Typical cases of NMO significantly differ from multiple sclerosis (MS) in immunological markers, histopathology, and responses to therapy. In fact, plasma exchange may be more efficacious for NMO than MS, whereas interferon-ß is recommended for MS but not for NMO. An emerging idea that pathogenesis of NMO may involve an interaction of the newly identified helper T cell subset, Th17, with B cells offers potential targets of therapy.
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