The goal of our research is to understand the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), a common human disease characterized by CNS inflammation and demyelination. Many of our studies employ a murine model for MS, known as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Our currently funded work is to study: 1) the role of B lymphocytes and soluble immune mediators, including antibodies directed against myelin components; 2) the molecular substrates for ́remissionsî of relapsing-remitting MS. Using mice with a relapsing-remitting form of EAE, and cells obtained from human subjects at various stages of MS, we are examining the role of a family of newly described endogenous inhibitors of inflammatory mediators; and 3) the immunologic and clinical effects of B cell inhibition in MS patients.
Research Publications
Lyons JA, San M, Happ MP, Cross AH (1999 Nov). B cells are critical to induction of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis by protein but not by a short encephalitogenic peptide. Eur J Immunol. 29 (11): 3432-9. Full Article >
Lyons JA, Ramsbottom MJ, Cross AH (2002 Jul). Critical role of antigen-specific antibody in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced by recombinant myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. Eur J Immunol. 32 (7): 1905-13. Full Article >
Lyons JA, Ramsbottom MJ, Trotter JL, Cross AH (2002 Dec). Identification of the encephalitogenic epitopes of CNS proteolipid protein in BALB/c mice. J Autoimmun. 19 (4): 195-201. Full Article >
Song SK, Sun SW, Ramsbottom MJ, Chang C, Russell J, Cross AH (2002 Nov). Dysmyelination revealed through MRI as increased radial (but unchanged axial) diffusion of water. Neuroimage. 17 (3): 1429-36. Full Article >
Song SK, Sun SW, Ju WK, Lin SJ, Cross AH, Neufeld AH (2003 Nov). Diffusion tensor imaging detects and differentiates axon and myelin degeneration in mouse optic nerve after retinal ischemia. Neuroimage. 20 (3): 1714-22. Full Article >
Stark JL, Lyons JA, Cross AH (2004 Jun). Interferon-gamma produced by encephalitogenic cells induces suppressors of cytokine signaling in primary murine astrocytes. J Neuroimmunol. 151 (1-2): 195-200. Full Article >
Contact Info
Anne Cross, M.D.
Office Location: 323 McMillan Hosp.
Office Phone: 314-747-0405
Campus Box: 8111
Fax: 314-747-1345
crossa@neuro.wustl.edu
