Role of the Immunogenic and Tolerogenic Subsets of Dendritic Cells in Multiple Sclerosis

Figure 2

Role of dendritic cells (DCs) in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS)/experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). As professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs), DCs in the periphery could activate the T cells upon pathological stimulation resulting in secreting proinflammatory cytokines, aiding their entry through the endothelial blood-brain barrier (BBB) to the CNS; then these myelin-reactive T cells are reactivated upon encounter with resident APCs including DCs which present myelin-derived epitopes. Subsequently, these perivascular T cells will secrete proinflammatory cytokines which result in recruitment of other inflammatory cells. Consequently, this will lead to demyelination of axons accounting for the sensory and motor deficits of MS.