Immunological differences between classical phenothypes of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS), one of the most serious inflammatory and neurodegenerative conditions, is characterized by variable clinical courses-relapsing-remitting (RRMS), primary progressive (PPMS) and secondary progressive (SPMS). Although PPMS affects only 10-15% of the patient population, its course and pathophysiological and immunological background are distinct. In this review we present and discuss main differences between different types of MS, with particular focus on the underlying immunological mechanisms. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.