Dr. Anthony Reder has a 40-year interest in multiple sclerosis.
He has coauthored over 180 papers, plus abstracts and presentations, on multiple sclerosis, animal models of MS, and neuro-immune conditions. His primary research interests are in the interaction between the central nervous system (CNS) and the cellular immune system, and in how the brain and immune system are altered by the drugs we use to treat MS. Professor Reder has an active lab studying many facets of the immune disruption in MS, and the mechanism of action of interferon-beta and other MS drugs. They find that there is a defect in the interferon signaling pathway in lymphocytes from progressive forms of MS. This may be why some patients with progressive MS do not respond clinically to interferon therapy. He and Xuan Feng are now studying highly abnormal gene expression and splicing of mRNA in MS white blood cells.
Dr. Reder and other faculty members at the University of Chicago have helped develop multiple new treatments for MS. These include the first biological therapy for MS, interferon-beta, plus other drugs including glatiramer (Copaxone), natalizumab (Tysabri), rituximab, ocrelizumab, estriol (the pregnancy hormone), FTY720/fingolimod (Gilenya), anti-CD20 antibodies, plus drugs for pain in MS (misoprostol). He evaluated IFN-beta patients 21 years after the original pivotal trial, the effects of statins and vitamin D on IFN efficacy, and a new clinical sign defining the "MS hug." Current clinical trials include promising new drugs for neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and progressive MS.
He has trained a number of excellent MS fellows, funded by the US National MS Society. Two fellows, Adil Javed and Veronica Cipriani, are now on faculty at the U of Chicago. Dr. Javed defined the mechanism of a new variant of MS, CNS Sjögren’s disease, which requires different treatments than conventional MS; Dr Cipriani is an expert in MS and autoimmune encephalitis.
Dr. Reder is also kind to puppies.
U of Chicago
Chicago
NMSS Sylvia Lawry Fellow - NeurorImmunology
1984
U of MN
Minneapolis
Internship and Residency - Neurology
1982
U of Michigan
Ann Arbor
BS - Psychology and Zoology
1974
U of Michigan
Ann Arbor
MD - All of medicine
1974
Long-Term IFN-ß Therapy Enhances and Prolongs IFN Responses in Multiple Sclerosis.
Long-Term IFN-ß Therapy Enhances and Prolongs IFN Responses in Multiple Sclerosis. J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2026 Jun 10; 10799907261458149.
PMID: 42267917
Impaired inactive limb blood flow regulation in adults with multiple sclerosis during sympathoexcitatory stimuli.
Impaired inactive limb blood flow regulation in adults with multiple sclerosis during sympathoexcitatory stimuli. Physiol Rep. 2025 12; 13(23):e70694.
PMID: 41355331
IFN-ß therapy rescues dysregulated IFN-stimulated proteins, serum cytokines, and neurotrophic factors in multiple sclerosis: Multiplex analysis of short-term and long-term IFN responses.
IFN-ß therapy rescues dysregulated IFN-stimulated proteins, serum cytokines, and neurotrophic factors in multiple sclerosis: Multiplex analysis of short-term and long-term IFN responses. PLoS One. 2025; 20(9):e0330867.
PMID: 40971988
Two roads diverged in multiple sclerosis: When is switching therapy effective?
Two roads diverged in multiple sclerosis: When is switching therapy effective? Neurotherapeutics. 2025 Oct; 22(6):e00734.
PMID: 40914738
Cardiovascular hemodynamic response to peak exercise in individuals with multiple sclerosis.
Cardiovascular hemodynamic response to peak exercise in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Physiol Rep. 2024 Dec; 12(24):e70150.
PMID: 39725667
Congenital absence of touch does not preclude normal cognitive and socioemotional development.
Congenital absence of touch does not preclude normal cognitive and socioemotional development. Res Sq. 2024 Aug 07.
PMID: 39149458
Alternative Splicing of RNA Is Excessive in Multiple Sclerosis and Not Linked to Gene Expression Levels: Dysregulation Is Corrected by IFN-ß.
Alternative Splicing of RNA Is Excessive in Multiple Sclerosis and Not Linked to Gene Expression Levels: Dysregulation Is Corrected by IFN-ß. J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2024 08; 44(8):355-371.
PMID: 38695855
Novel biomarkers and interferon signature in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.
Novel biomarkers and interferon signature in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. J Neuroimmunol. 2024 04 15; 389:578328.
PMID: 38471284
Twenty Years of Subcutaneous Interferon-Beta-1a for Multiple Sclerosis: Contemporary Perspectives.
Twenty Years of Subcutaneous Interferon-Beta-1a for Multiple Sclerosis: Contemporary Perspectives. Neurol Ther. 2024 Apr; 13(2):283-322.
PMID: 38206453
Corrigendum: Adaptive and innate immune responses in multiple sclerosis with anti-CD20 therapy: gene expression and protein profiles.
Corrigendum: Adaptive and innate immune responses in multiple sclerosis with anti-CD20 therapy: gene expression and protein profiles. Front Neurol. 2023; 14:1245622.
PMID: 37614975