Dopaminergic Receptor Targeting in Multiple Sclerosis: Is There Therapeutic Potential?

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that mediates neuropsychological functions of the central nervous system (CNS). Recent studies have shown the modulatory effect of dopamine on the cells of innate and adaptive immune systems, including Th17 cells, which play a critical role in inflammatory diseases of the CNS. This article reviews the literature data on the role of dopamine in the regulation of neuroinflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS). The influence of dopaminergic receptor targeting on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and MS pathogenesis, as well as the therapeutic potential of dopaminergic drugs as add-on pathogenetic therapy of MS, is discussed.

The influence of biogenic amines on Th17-mediated immune response in multiple sclerosis.

Biogenic amines are direct mediators of interactions between immune and nervous systems implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Recently, great attention has been drawn to studying the effects of biogenic amines on Th17-cells, which play one of the central roles in the development of inflammatory lesions in MS. Results of these studies suggest that, depending on the activation of particular receptors, biogenic amines can both enhance and inhibit Th17-cell functions. Based on these data, targeting biogenic amines and their receptors could be explored as a new kind of additional disease-modifying treatment of MS.