Myelination and Demyelination

In June 1987, neurobiologists, immunologists, molecular biologists, virologists and neurologists from several countries met in Vancouver to discuss recent advances of relevance to multiple sclerosis. The symposium was a part of the 22nd Canadian Congress of Neurological Sciences meeting and was sponsored by funds from the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and the Medical Research Council of Canada. The presentations covered five major topics: basic neurobiology, molecular biology, the role of viruses in demyelination, immune function and dysfunction in multiple sclerosis, and clinical magnetic resonance imaging studies. It was heartening to note that scientists from several different disciplines were working towards a common end-point: the understanding and treatment of multiple sclerosis. In this book, speakers at the symposium have each presented a chapter of their findings and discussions. In addition, some non-participants at the symposium have been invited to submit chapters in order to give this volume a more complete scope. It is hoped that the reader will find this book a useful reference for several subjects of interest to multiple sclerosis. In closing, I would like to thank the following for their help and support: the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and the Medical Research Council of Canada for their financial support; the contributors of this book for their manuscripts; Dr. A. Eisen, Mrs. K. Eisen, Mrs. P. Bodnarchuk and Mrs. M. Kim for their efforts in planning and organizing the symposium; and Ms. Catherine Schikowski for her secretarial assistance. Seung U. Kim, M. D. Ph. D.

Neurobiology Of Glial Cells. - 1. Human oligodendrocytes in culture: Biology and immunology. - 2. Neurological lineages and neurological diseases. - 3. Human glial cells and growth factors. - Molecular Biology Of Oligodendrocytes. - 4. Molecular genetics of myelin basic protein in mouse and humans. - 5. The primary structure of myelin associated glycoprotein suggests a role in myelination. - 6. Molecular genetics of myelin proteolipid proteins and their expression in normal and jimpy mice. - Electrophysiology Of Glial Cells. - 7. The ionic channels of glial cells. - 8. Physiological function of inward potassium currents in bovine oligodendrocytes in culture. - Virus Infection and Demyelination. - 9. Molecular determinants in autoimmunity. - 10. Viruses and demyelination. - 11. Retroviral disease of the nervous system. - 12. Herpes simplex virus Type 1 (HSV1): A murine model of virus induced central nervous system demyelination. - Neuroimmunology Of Multiple Sclerosis. - 13. Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis as a model of multiple sclerosis. - 14. Immune regulation in multiple sclerosis. - 15. In vivo and in vitro abnormal IgG regulation in multipl sclerosis. - 16. Studies of myelin breakdown in vitro. - 17. Autoantibodies to myelin basic protein in multiple sclerosis. - Clinical Aspects Of Multiple Sclerosis. - 18. Magnetic resonance imaging in demyelination.