Glatiramer acetate treatment of multiple sclerosis: an immunological perspective

J Immunol. 2011 Feb 15;186(4):1887-90. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1090138.

Abstract

Glatiramer acetate (GA) has been used as an immunomodulatory agent for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) in the United States since 1996. It is currently one of two first-line agents for use in the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS. GA was the first agent to be used in the treatment of MS that was developed using the animal model of MS called experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. In this commentary, we examine the development of GA as a treatment for MS and discuss its mechanism of action as suggested by recent studies using modern immunologic methods.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / drug effects
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental* / drug therapy
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental* / immunology
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental* / pathology
  • Glatiramer Acetate
  • Humans
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / drug therapy*
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / immunology*
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / pathology
  • Peptides / administration & dosage
  • Peptides / therapeutic use*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / pathology

Substances

  • Peptides
  • Glatiramer Acetate