Part 4/5 on Microglia: Microglia as a target for the treatment of MS (Accredited by EACCME)

Introduction

Microglia are a class of innate immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS). In the space of just a few years they have become a major focus of attention in multiple sclerosis (MS) research and as a therapeutic target to prevent disability progression in persons with MS.

This e-learning module is part of a series of 5 e-learning modules created by ParadigMS on ‘the role of Microglia in Multiple Sclerosis’. Each module has a lead author and several contributors, all are neurologists with an expertise in multiple sclerosis and members of ParadigMS.

You will receive an EACCME certificate and 0,5 European CME credit (ECMEC®) upon completing the e-learning and successfully passing the exam. Should you not be able to download the certificate, or need any further information, please contact: learning@paradigms.foundation

This self paced e-learning cover ‘clinical progression and the relation with innate immune cells’ in the context of Microglia.

About this module

A common theme throughout many of the sections in this e-Learning module is the prominent role played by brain-resident microglia in multiple sclerosis (MS).  

In the present e-learning, ParadigMS Expert and world-renowned MS neurologist Prof. Patrick Vermersch will discuss the role of microglia as promoters of disability progression, or smouldering disease. Importantly, he will discuss how current MS treatments reduce MS relapse activity and acute inflammation, but how the activation of innate immune cells (i.e. microglia) in the brain contributes to ongoing disability progression that is not related to relapses.  This facet of MS represents an unmet treatment need and is the focus of much clinical research.

Indeed, the development of disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and penetrating the CNS to act directly on aberrantly activated microglia emerges as the next frontier in MS.

Prof. Vermersch will provide details about several promising new classes of drugs, one of which is the Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors. BTK is an important enzyme present in microglia and required for their activation. It is thought that by turning off the activity of this enzyme the unwanted neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative properties of aberrantly activated microglia can be reduced, thus providing a new and potentially important therapeutic option for MS patients with ongoing disease progression.

By the end of this e-learning module, participants will:
• Get insight in the role of microglia as promoters of disability progression, or smouldering disease in MS;

• Understand how the activation of innate immune cells (i.e. microglia) in the brain contributes to ongoing disability progression that is not related to relapses;

• Have a better understanding of several promising new classes of drugs in Multiple Sclerosis, one of which is the Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitorsthe pathogenesis of MS