Inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-α: Promising agents for the treatment of multiple sclerosis?

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is a critical inflammatory mediator of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis, and may therefore be a useful target for immunotherapy. Therapeutic strategies aimed at TNF include pharmacological inhibitors of TNF synthesis and/or processing and biological inhibitors of TNF effects. Several anti-TNF agents are currently being tested in multiple sclerosis in pilot clinical trials.