Table 1.

Characteristics of Cells Potentially Contributing to Disease Pathogenesis in Multiple Sclerosis and Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Cell type	Characteristic features	Potential contribution to MS/EAE
Parenchymal microglia	MHC class II, PRRs, co-stimulatory molecules, immunoproteasome machinery, pro-inflammatory cytokines	APC, disease initiation
Peripheral microglia/macrophages	MHC class II, PRRs, co-stimulatory molecules, immunoproteasome machinery, pro-inflammatory cytokines	APC, disease initiation or progression
Myeloid-derived DCs	MHC class II, PRRs, co-stimulatory molecules, immunoproteasome machinery, pro-inflammatory cytokines	APC, disease progression
Plasmacytoid DCs	MHC II (inducible), PRRs, pro-inflammatory cytokines	APC, immunoregulation
neurons	PRRs, pro-inflammatory cytokines	Immunoregulation
Astrocytes	MHC class II (inducible), PRRs (TLR3 only), pro-inflammatory cytokines	Immunoregulation
Vascular endothelial cells	MHC class II (inducible), co-stimulatory molecules (inducible)	Immunoregulation

DC, dendritic cell; MS, multiple sclerosis; EAE, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; TLR3, toll-like receptor 3; APC, antigen presenting cell; MHC, major histocompatibility complex; PRR, pattern recognition receptor.