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Advances on Cellular Clonotypic Immunity in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Giuseppe Schirò1, Vincenzo Di Stefano1, Salvatore Iacono1
1Section of Neurology, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.
Brain Sciences
|October 27, 2022
Summary
The immune system
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
Background:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neuromuscular disease.
- The exact causes of ALS pathogenesis are still unknown.
- Growing evidence suggests a role for the immune system in ALS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the role of the adaptive immune system in ALS.
- To integrate current clinical and experimental findings on immune cells in ALS.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing human and animal model studies.
- Analysis of adaptive immunity cell changes (number and activation) in ALS.
- Examination of the effects of lymphocyte subsets and mediators.
Main Results:
- Adaptive immune cells show altered numbers and activation profiles in ALS.
- Lymphocyte subsets and mediators can have both protective and detrimental effects in ALS.
- The role of the immune system in ALS progression and mortality is complex and appears contradictory.
Conclusions:
- The immune system's role in ALS is multifaceted, with both beneficial and harmful impacts.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the complex interplay between immunity and ALS.
- Targeting specific immune mechanisms could offer new therapeutic strategies for ALS.
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