Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.0
4.9
Journals
IJMS
Special Issues
Molecular Mechanism in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders: 3rd Edition
ijms-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Molecular Mechanism in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders: 3rd Edition

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2026 | Viewed by 7345

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Hartung

grade E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, D-40225 Dusseldorf, Germany
2. Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
Interests: interferon; virus; immunology multiple sclerosis neuroimmunology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Kazuo Fujihara

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Multiple Sclerosis Therapeutics, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
2. Multiple Sclerosis & Neuromyelitis Optica Center, Southern TOHOKU Research Institute for Neuroscience, Koriyama, Japan
Interests: multiple sclerosis; neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder; MOG antibody-associated disease
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Immune-mediated inflammatory demyelinating central nervous diseases include multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs), anti-myelin oligodendrocyte antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), and some other rare disorders. Our aim for this Special Issue is to explore mechanistic aspects of these disorders, which are becoming better defined. Nevertheless, there are still a number of unresolved issues. There will be a special focus on the pathways underlying the neurodegenerative phase of MS and the role of innate immune cells, persistent demyelination, and iron toxicity. We are also interested to collect contributions in the area of body fluid, imaging and functional biomarkers connected with specific pathophysiological mechanisms and activity and stages of the disease. We welcome contributions on animal models of these disorders, including models of demyelination/remyelination. Finally, new disease-modifying treatments for MS and related disorders, with an anti-inflammatory profile and a neuroprotective mode of action, also fall under the scope of this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Hartung
Prof. Dr. Kazuo Fujihara
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • neurodegeneration
  • multiple sclerosis
  • NMOSD
  • MOGAD
  • disease-modifying treatments

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review, Other

15 pages, 2500 KB  
Article
Changes in Blood Cells and Complements During Relapse Prevention Therapies for Aquaporin-4 Antibody-Positive Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder
by Hiroshi Kuroda, Kazuo Fujihara, Kimihiko Kaneko, Yoshiki Takai, Yuki Matsumoto, Mizuki Otomo, Naoya Yamazaki, Shu Umezawa, Naoki Yamamoto, Naohiro Sakamoto, Chihiro Namatame, Hirohiko Ono, Shuhei Nishiyama, Toshiyuki Takahashi, Tatsuro Misu and Masashi Aoki
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(2), 951; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27020951 - 18 Jan 2026
Viewed by 559
Abstract
In this study, blood cell counts and serum C3, C4, and CH50 values at baseline and after more than 6-month drug use were measured to elucidate changes in blood cells and complements during relapse prevention therapies for aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder [...] Read more.
In this study, blood cell counts and serum C3, C4, and CH50 values at baseline and after more than 6-month drug use were measured to elucidate changes in blood cells and complements during relapse prevention therapies for aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4+ NMOSD). A total of 70 patients with AQP4+ NMOSD (87% female, median age 56 years) were enrolled. They were divided into the following treatment groups: glucocorticoids and/or immunosuppressants (GC/IS, n = 22), inebilizumab/rituximab (anti-CD19/20, n = 13), satralizumab (anti-IL-6R, n = 22), and eculizumab/ravulizumab (anti-C5, n = 13). At baseline, the blood counts and complement levels did not differ among the groups. At follow-up, the neutrophil and platelet counts in the anti-IL-6R group decreased from those at baseline (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Compared with the GC/IS, anti-CD19/20, and anti-C5 groups, the anti-IL-6R group had lower levels of C3 (p < 0.0001, p < 0.01, and p < 0.05, respectively) and C4 (p < 0.0001, p < 0.01, p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, the anti-C5 group had significantly lower CH50 levels than the GC/IS, anti-CD19/20, and anti-IL-6R groups (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p < 0.05, respectively). In addition, the anti-IL-6R group had lower CH50 levels than the GC/IS and anti-CD19/20 groups (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). The present study demonstrated that anti-IL-6R therapy broadly and mildly suppressed the complement system and decreased the neutrophil and platelet counts. It also showed that anti-C5 therapy strongly suppressed total complement activity but did not affect the C3 and C4 levels or blood counts. These findings may have implications for the mode of action of the drugs and the risk of adverse drug reactions, including infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanism in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders: 3rd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 568 KB  
Article
Digit Span Tests Are More Sensitive than SDMT for Detecting Working Memory Impairment and Correlate with Metabolic Alterations in White Matter and Deep Gray Matter Nuclei in Multiple Sclerosis: A GABA-Edited Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study
by Ján Grossmann, Marián Grendár, Petra Hnilicová, Nina Kováčiková, Lucia Kotul’ová, Wolfgang Bogner, Egon Kurča and Ema Kantorová
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(18), 8842; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26188842 - 11 Sep 2025
Viewed by 2042
Abstract
In this paper, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and usefulness of three brief, easy-to-administer, and repeatable tests, namely SDMT, Digit Span Forward (DSF), and Digit Span Backward (DSB) in MS patients (MSp), and compared the results with those of healthy volunteers (CONs). [...] Read more.
In this paper, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and usefulness of three brief, easy-to-administer, and repeatable tests, namely SDMT, Digit Span Forward (DSF), and Digit Span Backward (DSB) in MS patients (MSp), and compared the results with those of healthy volunteers (CONs). We were hoping to identify the most sensitive test that could be used regularly in clinical practice. In addition, we tried to identify the metabolic background of the cognitive setting using the advanced radiological method, Mescher–Garwood (MEGA)-edited 1H Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-MRS). A total of 22 relapsing MSp and 22 CONs were enrolled. The SDMT, DSF, and DSB tests were used on all participants. The patients also underwent a 1H-MRS brain examination. In addition to N-Acetyl-Aspartate (tNAA), Myoinositol (mIns), Choline (tCho), and Creatine (tCr) were also evaluated GABA and Glutamate–Glutamine (Glx) ratios. CONs were superior to MSp in the results of all neurocognitive tests. The DSB was found to be the most sensitive test for identifying MSp. The SDMT in MSp correlated with inflammatory and degenerative metabolites in the thalamus, hippocampus, and corpus callosum. A correlation between increased Glx- and GABA-ratios and SDMT was found. Unlike the SDMT, the DSF and DSB showed correlations with inflammatory metabolites in the caudate nucleus and hypothalamus. DSF correlated with GABA ratios in the hippocampus. Our study confirms the efficacy of DSF and DSB tests in evaluating working memory cognitive impairment in MSp, showing an association of the tests with specific brain metabolites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanism in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders: 3rd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research, Other

20 pages, 2298 KB  
Review
CD20+ T Cells in Multiple Sclerosis: From Pathogenesis to Treatment-Induced Depletion
by Anna Chiara Mazzeo, Laura Calabresi, Valentina Damato, Gregorio Spagni, Luca Massacesi and Alice Mariottini
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(14), 6655; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26146655 - 11 Jul 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2460
Abstract
The traditional paradigm of multiple sclerosis (MS) as a T cell-mediated disorder has been challenged by the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting CD20-expressing lymphocytes. Although these are mostly represented by B cells, the CD20 marker is expressed by 2–6% of T cells [...] Read more.
The traditional paradigm of multiple sclerosis (MS) as a T cell-mediated disorder has been challenged by the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting CD20-expressing lymphocytes. Although these are mostly represented by B cells, the CD20 marker is expressed by 2–6% of T cells (CD20+ T), which are effectively depleted in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of MS patients by anti-CD20 mAbs. CD20+ T cells are characterized by a pro-inflammatory phenotype and increased potential for migrating and invading the central nervous system (CNS) compared to CD20− T cells. Furthermore, CD20+ T cells are detected within brain inflammatory lesions from MS patients and actively participate in the experimental MS model. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on CD20+ T cells, from their identification and characterization to evidence of depletion by disease-modifying treatments (DMTs), likely contributing to therapeutic efficacy. Conflicting hypotheses on the origin and development of CD20+ T cells will also be discussed, as well as evidence from clinical and preclinical studies supporting their pathogenetic role in MS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanism in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders: 3rd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

17 pages, 2405 KB  
Case Report
Blurred by a “Puff of Smoke”—A Case-Based Review on the Challenging Recognition of Coexisting CNS Demyelinating Disease and Moyamoya Angiopathy
by Isabella Canavero, Nicola Rifino, Carlo Antozzi, Valentina Caldiera, Elena Colombo, Tatiana Carrozzini, Giuseppe Ganci, Paolo Ferroli, Francesco Acerbi, Benedetta Storti, Giorgio Battista Boncoraglio, Antonella Potenza, Giuliana Pollaci, Gemma Gorla, Elisa Ciceri, Patrizia De Marco, Laura Gatti and Anna Bersano
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(11), 5030; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26115030 - 23 May 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1866
Abstract
Moyamoya angiopathy (MMA) is a cerebrovascular disease determining chronic progressive steno-occlusion of the supraclinoid internal carotid arteries and their main branches. The pathogenesis of MMA remains largely unknown. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system characterized [...] Read more.
Moyamoya angiopathy (MMA) is a cerebrovascular disease determining chronic progressive steno-occlusion of the supraclinoid internal carotid arteries and their main branches. The pathogenesis of MMA remains largely unknown. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system characterized by the progressive accumulation of focal demyelinating lesions, whose pathophysiology has been theorized but still incompletely understood. Beyond misdiagnoses due to mimicking features among the two disorders, MS coexisting with MMA have been previously, rarely, reported. Herein, we present two other cases of patients with MMA with a concomitant, previously missed, diagnosis of MS and discuss their overlapping features as a hint for a potentially shared pathophysiology. The finding of typical angiographic features enables MMA diagnosis, yet it does not allow us to rule out other potentially concomitant disorders affecting the CNS. The association may be easily missed if the clinical/neuroradiological picture is not carefully assessed. Cerebral spinal fluid analysis and spine neuroimaging should be suggested in all MMA patients with atypical MRI lesions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanism in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders: 3rd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop