Knowing the mechanisms and the times of remyelination is not only an intriguing scientific challenge but it has also important consequences on the therapeutic approach to multiple sclerosis (MS). The neural-cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) shows tempting suggestions about its possible involvement in reparative mechanisms, and, finally, in remyelination. In fact, its levels progressively increase in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of acute MS patients, paralleling the progressive clinical improvement after the attack. Some information is also given about the ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), whose CSF levels were found to be increased in MS patients who were recovering from an acute exacerbation.
Greenfield JG , King LS. (1958) Demyelinating diseases. In: Greenfield JGet al. (eds). Greenfield's Neuropathology. London: Edward Arnold pp. 441-474.
2.
Lumsden CE. (1970) The neuropathology of multiple sclerosis. In: Vinken PJ & Bruyn GW (eds). Handbook of Clinical Neurology, vol. 9. Amsterdam: North-Holland PC pp. 217-309.
3.
Prineas JWet al. (1993) Multiple sclerosis: remyelination of nascent lesion . Ann Neurol33: 137-151 .
4.
Ozawa Ket al. (1994) Patterns of oligodendroglia pathology in multiple sclerosis . Brain117: 1311-1322 .
5.
Edelman GM. (1986) Cell adhesion molecules in the regulation of animal form and tissue pattern . Ann Rev Cell Biol2: 81-116 .
6.
Cioffi RP , Carbone G , Massaro AR. (1986) Alcuni aspetti neurobiologici della N-CAM . Arch Psicol Neurol Psich47: 191-208 .
7.
Bock E , Edvardsen K , Linneman D , Nybroe O. (1988) Structure and function of soluble NCAM. In: Gorio A , Perez-Polo JR , de Vellis J , Haber B (eds). Neural Development and Regeneration. Berlin-Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag pp. 343-352.
8.
Bath S , Silberberg DH. (1986) Oligodendrocyte cell adhesion molecules are related to N-CAM . JNeurosci6: 3348-3354 .
9.
Bath S , Silberberg DH. (1988) N-CAM 180, the largest component of the N-CAM, is reduced in dysmyelinating quaking mutant mouse brain . Brain Res452: 373-377 .
10.
Bath S , Silberberg DH. (1988) Developmental expression of N-CAM of oligodendrocytes in vivo and in culture . J Neurochem50: 1830-1838 .
11.
Ono Jet al. (1994) Central nervous system abnormalities in chromosome deletion at 11q23 . Clin Genet45: 325-329 .
12.
Montag Det al. (1994) Mice deficient for the myelin-associated glycoprotein show subtle abnormalities in myelin . Neuron13: 229-246 .
13.
Tacke R & Martini R. (1990) Changes in expression of mRNA specific for cell adhesion molecules (L1 and N-CAM) in the transected peripheral nerve of the adult rat . Neuroscience Letters120: 227-230 .
14.
Nait Oumesmar Bet al. (1995) Expression of the highly polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule during postnatal and following chemically induced demyelination of the adult mouse spinal cord . Europ J Neurosci7: 480-491 .
15.
Massaro AR , Scivoletto G , Tonali P. (1990) Cerebrospinal fluid markers in neurological disorders . It J Neurol Sci11: 537-547 .
16.
Massaro AR , Albrechtsen M , Bock E. (1987) N-CAM in CSF: a marker of synaptic remodelling after acute phases of multiple sclerosis?It J Neurol Scis6: 85-88 .
17.
Ibsen S , Berezin V , Nùrgaard Pedersen B , Bock E. (1983) Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the D2 glyco-protein . J Neurochem41: 356-362 .
18.
Massaro AR , Albrechtsen M , Bock E. (1987) Determination of the neural-cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with multiple sclerosis. In: Lowenthal A & Raus J (eds). Cellular and Humoral Immunological Components of Cerebrospinal Fluid in Multiple Sclerosis. New York: Plenum PC pp. 397-402.
19.
Massaro ARet al. (1985) Myelin basic protein and S-100 antigen in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis in the acute phase . It J Neurol Sci6: 53-56 .
20.
Massaro AR.La sclerosi multipla. In: Bergonzi P & Massaro AR (eds). Trattato Italiano di Neurologia, vol. 4. Roma: Verduci Editore (in press).
21.
Massaro AR , Carnevale A , Tonali P , Bock E. (1997) Glial cell pathobiology in multiple sclerosis detected by CSF markers. In: Teelken AW & Korf J (eds). Neurochemistry. New York: Plenum PC pp. 451-455.
22.
Massaro AR & Tonali P. (1998) Cerebrospinal fluid markers in multiple sclerosis: an overview . Multiple Sclerosis4: 1-4 .
23.
Massaro AR , Cioffi R , Carbone G. (1988) Serum and cerebrospinal fluid levels of N-CAM in multiple sclerosis patients . Europ J Neuroscis1: 328-328 .
24.
Louis J-C , Magal E , Takayama S , Varon S. (1993) CNTF protection of oligodendrocytes against natural and tumor necrosis factor induced death . Science259: 689-692 .
25.
D'Souza S , Alinauskas K , Antel JP. (1996) Ciliary neurotrophic factor selectively protects human oligodendrocytes from tumor necrosis factor-mediated injury . J Neurosci Res43: 289-298 .
26.
Winter CG , Saotome Y , Levison SW , Hirsh D. (1995) A role for ciliary neurotrophic factor as an inducer of reactive gliosis, the glial response to central nervous system injury . Proc Natl Acad Sci USA92: 5865-5869 .
27.
Smith GM , Rabinovsky ED , McManaman JL , Shine HD. (1993) Temporal and spatial expression of ciliary neurotrophic factor after peripheral nerve injury . Exp Neurol121: 239-247 .
28.
Massaro AR , Soranzo C , Carnevale A. (1997) Cerebro-spinal fluid ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) in neurological patients . Europ Neurol37: 243-246 .
29.
Massaro ARet al. (1997) Neurotrophic factors in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases. In: Abramski O & Ovadia H (eds). Frontiers in Multiple Sclerosis. London: Martin Dunitz Publisher pp. 155-160.
