Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are tightly regulated in mammalian cells. A variety of enzymes produce ROS, including NAD(P)H oxidase, xanthine oxidase, glucose oxidase, myeloperoxidase, the family of nitric oxide synthases, and mitochondrial enzymes.1–4 Low levels of ROS such as superoxide or hydrogen peroxide regulate highly specific targets.5,6 In the cardiovascular system, for examp...

Neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS) is the structural correlate of permanent neurological disability in patients. The histopathological features of neurodegeneration include destruction of axons as well as apoptotic cell death of neuronal cell bodies. Therapeutic efforts to control these clinically important aspects of MS pathology showed limited success so far. In this review article,...

Congenic mice of the MRL/Mp strain spontaneously develop an autoimmune connective tissue disease that shares immunologic and histopathologic features with the human disorders systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic vasculitis. The autoimmune disorder in these mice is markedly accelerated by the recessive gene lpr. Older MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice develop significant inflammato...

Currently, ionizing radiation (IR) plays a key role in the agricultural and medical industry, while accidental exposure resulting from leakage of radioactive sources or radiological terrorism is a serious concern. Exposure to IR has various detrimental effects on normal tissues. Although an increased risk of carcinogenesis is the best-known long-term consequence of IR, evidence has shown that o...

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level through base-pairing predominantly with a 3'-untranslated region of target mRNA, followed by mRNA degradation or translational repression. Totally, miRNAs change, through a complex regulatory network, the expression of more than 60% of human genes. MiRNAs are key regulators of t...

The role of focal brain damage as a trigger for autoimmune inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) is unclear. In this study we examine mechanisms by which experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is enhanced by focal brain damage. EAE was produced in Lewis rats by footpad inoculation; focal brain damage, in the form of a cortical cryolesion (cryolesion-EAE), was induced 8 days post-inoc...

PURPOSE Microbial products stimulate the immune system by interacting with Toll-like receptors (TLR) on antigen-presenting cells. This study examined the hypothesis that microbial products, which function as TLR ligands, are playing a major role in triggering pathogenic autoimmunity. METHODS An experimental system was developed in which microbial TLR ligands were tested in vivo for their capa...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This article describes the background, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of selected etiologies of subacute and chronic meningitis. Key diagnostic considerations when evaluating a patient presenting with chronic inflammation of the CNS are discussed, and several specific infectious, neoplastic, and autoimmune etiologies are reviewed in detail. RECENT FINDINGS W...

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is an autoimmune inflammation of the brain parenchyma mediated with autoantibodies against NMDA receptors in neuronal cells. It most common form encephalitides pediatric patients. In this case report, we present a child anti-NMDAR encephalitis, refractory to first-line therapy.