Abstract: This invention pertains to the discovery that nerve growth factor (NGF) is capable of preventing further demyelination of nervous tissue in pathologies characterized by the demyelination of nervous tissue (e.g. multiple sclerosis). In one embodiment, this invention provides a method for inhibiting demyelination in a subject having an inflammatory disease of a nervous tissue. The method involves administering an effective amount of NGF, an NGF analogue, or an active fragment of NGF where the effective amount is sufficient to downregulate the production of interferon ? by T cells infiltrating the central nervous system and/or to upregulate IL-10 production by glial cells.

Abstract: Provided are non-human animal model systems for viral pathogenesis of neurodegeneration, autoimmune demyelination, and autoimmune diseases such as diseases of the central nervous system, including multiple sclerosis (MS), and diabetes. Such non-human animal model systems may be suitably employed for the study of diseases such as MS and diabetes and for the identification and characterization of candidate therapeutic compounds and compositions for the treatment of such diseases. Also provided herein are markers and methods for the detection, in patients susceptible to autoimmune disease, of autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system such as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) following treatment with one or more therapeutic agent as exemplified herein by the therapeutic agent natalizumab.

Abstract: This invention provides methods utilizing detection/quantification of autoantibodies to specific epitopes of myelin components (e.g. to conformational epitope of myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)) for the definitive diagnosis, and/or staging or typing, and/or prognosis of multiple sclerosis.

Abstract: This invention pertains to the discovery that nerve growth factor (NGF) is capable of preventing further demyelination of nervous tissue in pathologies characterized by the demyelination of nervous tissue (e.g. multiple sclerosis). In one embodiment, this invention provides a method for inhibiting demyelination in a subject having an inflammatory disease of a nervous tissue. The method involves administering an effective amount of NGF, an NGF analogue, or an active fragment of NGF where the effective amount is sufficient to downregulate the production of interferon &lgr; by T cells infiltrating the central nervous system and/or to upregulate IL-10 production by glial cells.