A possible role of receptors in the SLIT/ROBO and NETRIN/DCC pathways in the genesis of multiple sclerosis

The medial longitudinal fascicle and the optic nerve are often affected in multiple sclerosis which causes internuclear ophthalmoplegia and optic neuritis. During prenatal development axons of both neuronal pathways are subjected to midline crossing in the central nervous system. Transmembrane receptor proteins like robos and dcc that interact with the chemorepellents and attractants slit and netrin are expressed in developing axons that cross the midline and are likely to play a role postnatally. It is hypothesized and discussed that these receptor proteins represent a specific antigen targeted by autoimmune processes in multiple sclerosis.