The diseases that fall under the generalized group of demyelinating diseases -Multiple Sclerosis, Leukodystrophyes, Encephalomyelitis-are the focus of worldwide concern. This volume contains papers presented by leading scientists who attended the NATO Advanced Research Workshop held at the Istituto Superiore di SanitA, Rome, March 1-4, 1993. This book is an update of the previous one published in 1987 of the research discussed at a similar meeting held in 1986. It was decided to hold this 2nd meeting since there has been great progress in the advances in understanding the myelinogenesis process in the last five years. The workshop gathered together scientists from many fields such as cellular and molecular biology, immunology, pathology, virology and of course clinical neurology. Stimulating ideas were exchanged in the hope that more knowledge of demyelinating diseases can lead to new theraupetic approaches. Although the workshop was on the whole similar to the previous one, this time there was more emphasis on experimental models and clinical aspects. In the former the use of animal and cellular models as tools for understanding the pathological mechanisms linked to human disease were discussed; in the latter the clinicians described the filtering down of basic research to clinical treatment The publication of this interdisciplinary exchange is to make known the results of the most recent research among the investigators from allover the world involved in these studies.

Klappentext

Proceedings of a NATO ARW held in Rome, Italy, March 1-4, 1993.

Zusammenfassung
Proceedings of a NATO ARW held in Rome, Italy, March 1-4, 1993.

Inhalt
The Proteolipid Protein Gene Family: Three New Members and Evidence for their Common Origin from a Primitive Membrane Channel.- Transgenic Models for Investigating Oligodendrocyte Differentiation and Myelin Formation.- Axonal Contact Induces Oligodendroglial Specific Transcription of the MBP Gene from the Proximal Promoter Region.- Retrovirus-Mediated Gene Transfer of PMP 22 in Schwann Cells: Studies on Cell Growth.- Protein Sorting and Targeting in Myelin-Forming Schwann Cells.- Cellular and Molecular Characteristics of CNP Suggest Regulatory Mechanisms in Myelinogenesis.- Myelin Basic Protein mRNA Translocation in Oligodendrocytes Involves Microtubules and Is Inhibited by Astrocytes in vitro.- The Cytoskeleton in the Differentiation of Myelin-Forming Cells.- Regulation of Brain Stearoyl CoA Desaturase mRNA Expression During Myelination.- Dietary Lipids: Exogenous Control of Myelination.- MOCH-I Cells: an Oligodendrocyte Cell Line Generated Using a Transgenic Approach.- Molecular Biology and Neurogenetics of Myelin Proteolipid Protein (PLP).- Measles Virus Induced Autoimmune Reactions Against Brain Antigen.- Mechanisms of De- and Remyelination in Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis and Multiple Sclerosis.- The Immunologic Response of the Oligodendrocyte in the Active Multiple Sclerosis Lesion.- Autoimmune Responses to the Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) in the Pathogenesis of Inflammatory Demyelinating Diseases of the Central Nervous System.- Intrathecal Cytokine Synthesis in Inflammatory and Demyelinating Diseases of the Central Nervous System.- Lineages, Cell Fate Determination, and Migration in CNS Gliogenesis.- Areas of Demyelination Repaired by Mouse Oligodendrocytes and Rat Type-1-Astrocytes Create a New Model of Immune Mediated Demyelination.- Transplantationof Myelinating Cells into the Central Nervous System.- Genetic Disorders: Clinical and Therapeutical Aspects.- Genetic markers and their clinical and therapeutic implications.- The Role of the Blood-Brain-Barrier in the Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis.- Interferon and Copolymer I Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis: Clinical and Pathobiological Implications.- The Correlation between Magnetic Resonance Imaging Abnormalities and other Aspects of Multiple Sclerosis with Particular Emphasis on Therapeutic Trials.- T Lymphocyte Response to Potential Autoantigens in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.- Immunosuppression in Multiple Sclerosis : State of the Art and Future Perspectives.