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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Nov 15.
Published in final edited form as: J Neurol Sci. 2009 Jun 18;286(1-2):99–103. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2009.05.028

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Direct and indirect neuroprotection in multiple sclerosis. Drugs currently approved for treatment of relapsing-remitting MS (Interferon-β, Glatiramer Acetate, Mitoxantrone) are targeted at the immune system and mainly confer anti-inflammatory effects. While this may exert some indirect neuroprotection by reducing the immune attack on neurons and oligodendrocytes, no approved treatment directly protects CNS cells and/or promotes regeneration and repair (direct neuroprotection). Studies using in vitro systems and in vivo models indicate that estrogen treatment has the potential to be both anti-inflammatory and directly neuroprotective (see text for details).