臨床神経学

第51回日本神経学会総会

<シンポジウム05―5>中枢神経の免疫疾患とグリア
Humoral and cellular immune responses in neuromyelitis optica

河内 泉

新潟大学脳研究所臨床神経学部門神経内科学分野〔〒951―8585 新潟市中央区旭町通一番町757〕

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an inflammatory and demyelinating syndrome characterized by severe attacks of myelitis and optic neuritis. A crucial role for humoral immunity in the NMO pathogenesis has been suggested by the detection of a highly specific serum autoantibody NMO immunoglobulin G that binds to aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channels, and the pronounced deposition of immunoglobulins colocalizing with products of complement activation in a vasculocentric pattern around thickened hyalinized blood vessels in NMO lesions. Moreover, we have recently demonstrated that levels of several cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β are increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of NMO patients, and the peripheral white matter-demyelinating cord lesions of NMO were accompanied by infiltration of lymphocytes in the leptomeningeal membrane. These cellular elements in patients with NMO might aid B cells and plasma cells in AQP4 antibody production, and break the blood-brain barrier due to the access of AQP4 antibodies to the extracellular domain of AQP4 at the astrocytic foot process.
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(臨床神経, 50:873−874, 2010)
key words:視神経脊髄炎,アクアポリン4水チャネル,液性免疫機構,細胞性免疫機構

(受付日:2010年5月21日)