Restoration of Axon Conduction and Motor Deficits by Therapeutic Treatment with Glatiramer Acetate

Glatiramer acetate (GA; Copaxone) is an approved drug for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). The underlying multifactorial anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective effect of GA is in the induction of reactive Tcells that release immu-nomodulatory cytokines and neurotrophic factors at the injury site. These GA-induced cytokines and growth fac-tors may have a direct effect on axon function. Building on previous findings that suggest a neuroprotective effect of GA, we assessed the therapeutic effects of GA on brain and spinal cord pathology and functional correlates using the chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model of MS. Therapeutic regimens were uti-lized based on promising prophylactic efficacy. More spe-cifically, C57BL/6 mice were treated with 2 mg/mouse/day GA for 8 days beginning at various time points after EA