Can Immunotherapy Treat Other Conditions?

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects an individual's central nervous system or their brain, spinal cord, and associated nerves. Multiple sclerosis is considered an autoimmune disease because it is a result of the patient's immune system attacking the protective myelin sheath that covers their nerve fibers. This malfunction causes difficulty with nerve communications, widespread nerve damage, and deterioration of the nerves. Treatment aims at reducing the frequency of multiple sclerosis flare-ups and attempting to slow the progression of the disease. Immunotherapy has proven useful for multiple sclerosis patients through a number of mechanisms. Laboratory manipulation of activated T-cells can stop them from commanding immune system macrophages to attack the central nervous system. Laboratory manipulation of class II major histocompatibility complex-bearing cells can prevent the immune system from tagging its own nerve tissues for immune cell attack. Disruption of immune lymphocyte traffic can stop lymphocytes from reaching their target nerves. Manual removal of immune white blood cells and other serum factors through a machine outside of the body can reduce the inflammatory response on the myelin sheathing. Additionally, laboratory manipulation of antigen-specific cells can reduce the production of antibodies that also attack the central nervous system of an individual with multiple sclerosis.

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