Figure 4.

Role of BDNF in neural degeneration diseases such as multiple sclerosis. The antigen once it crosses the blood-brain barrier stimulates the production of T cells, which, in turn, activate B cells and macrophages. Damage to nerve fibers may result from either complement fixation or antibody-dependent cell-mediated immunity, resulting in multiple sclerosis. Neuroinflammatory reactions may also trigger neuroprotective events such as secretion of BDNF and anti-apoptotic Bcl2 that may explain the therapeutic role of BDNF in multiple sclerosis. This figure is adapted from refs. [82–84]