You are a world-renowned expert in multiple sclerosis. In particular, you made seminal discoveries about the role of innate immune system. Could you describe how the two arms of the immune system, the innate immune system and the adaptive immune system, work in the genesis of multiple sclerosis? Dr. Anton Titov, MD. What is the role of the innate immune system in multiple sclerosis? Dr. Anton Titov, MD. The adaptive immune system may be the immune system that reacts the quickest. This probably is related to multiple sclerosis attacks. The innate immune system maybe is the slower immune system. It could relate to multiple sclerosis disease progression. It involves microglial cells in the brain. Different medications target different limbs of the immune system. Dr. Howard Weiner, MD. We need to measure both arms of the immune system. The innate immune system is very important for long-term multiple sclerosis progression. In one of the articles you mentioned that up to 65% of multiple sclerosis patients eventually progress from relapsing-remitting form of multiple sclerosis to the secondary progressive multiple sclerosis phase. This is more difficult to treat. Does that signify the increase in the role of innate immune system as that progression happens? Dr. Anton Titov, MD. The innate immune system. Yes. It becomes more involved as the multiple sclerosis progression happens. With better treatments for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis there may be less and less patients that become progressive. They have less progressive multiple sclerosis. What are examples of new multiple sclerosis medications? Dr. Anton Titov, MD. Maybe some are still in development. Medications that work in particular on an innate immune system for patients with Multiple sclerosis? Dr. Anton Titov, MD. Well, most of the medications don't necessarily work on the innate immune system. Some medications have joint effects. It is more about measuring the innate immune system in multiple sclerosis patients. Up to 65% of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients progress eventually to secondary progressive phase. How changes in immune system function affect multiple sclerosis progress?
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