Fig. 1

Simplified overview of the traditional perspective on multiple sclerosis pathogenesis. Pathogenesis is mediated by an accumulation and activation of T/B lymphocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages within the CNS (1–2a) and activated microglia and astrocytes (2b, 3b). This leads to the release of a plethora of inflammatory mediators (3a, 3c), targeting myelin sheats and oligodendrocytes surrounding axons (4–5)