TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Neuroinflammation A1 - Nestler, Eric J. A1 - Hyman, Steven E. A1 - Holtzman, David M. A1 - Malenka, Robert C. Y1 - 2015 N1 - T2 - Molecular Neuropharmacology: A Foundation for Clinical Neuroscience, 3e AB - Immune mechanisms, both intrinsic to the brain and spinal cord and derived from the periphery, are important in fighting central nervous system infections and mediating repair after injury.There are two main components of the immune system. The innate immune system is the first line of defense and responds to conserved components of microbes and evidence of tissue injury.The adaptive immune system mounts immune responses against specific microbes, which includes humoral immunity (mediated by antibody production by B lymphocytes) and cell-based immunity (mediated by T lymphocytes).Such immune responses can damage the nervous system through many mechanisms and contribute to a range of disorders through processes referred to as neuroinflammation.Autoimmune diseases are a prominent example of immune-mediated damage of the nervous system, which is mediated by antibodies or T cells reacting against self antigens.Many systemic autoimmune disorders can affect the nervous system. Additionally, several autoimmune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and myasthenia gravis, selectively target the nervous system.MS occurs primarily via cell-mediated destruction of myelin sheaths and consequent damage to underlying axons.Myasthenia gravis and the related Lambert–Eaton syndrome occur primarily via antibody-mediated destruction of the neuromuscular junction.Treatments for these autoimmune disorders are based largely on targeting specific components of the immune system or the use of general immunosuppressive agents.Additionally, myasthenia gravis is treated with agents that promote the function of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter at the neuromuscular junction. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/28 UR - neurology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1105916253 ER -