视神经脊髓炎(NMO)是中枢神经系统自身免疫性疾病。我国NMO发病率高、复发率高、致残程度重、疗效较差。本研究提出NMO肾精不足、浊毒瘀痹经脉的病机理论，创立益肾活血的治法，采用具有益肾活血作用的中药复方益肾达络饮治疗NMO，研究其作用机制。课题组前期有关益肾活血中药干预实验性自身免疫脑脊髓炎(EAE)缺氧和免疫紊乱的神经保护作用的研究，取得可喜的结果，部分成果发表在J Neurochem杂志(影响因子4.281)。本研究在前期研究成果基础上，采用NMO-IgG作用于EAE的方法制备NMO动物模型和细胞模型，以NMO发病的关键靶点---星形胶质细胞为切入点，从动物、组织、细胞、分子多个维度研究NMO星形胶质细胞介导的免疫反应和激活补体导致的神经毒性作用的机理，揭示NMO的发病机制及其益肾活血方药的神经保护作用。深入探求中医药治疗NMO的作用机理，为中医药治疗NMO提供理论依据。

Neuromyelitis optica(NMO) is autoimmune disease. The incidence of NMO was higher.NMO has higher relapse rate,and cause severe disability. Some of NMO severe neurological damage is irreversible in the first attack. On the basis of the overview to pathogenesy theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for NMO, we set up the method of reinforcing kidney and activating blood therapy.From the aspects of pathogenesis and pathological changes localization, we interpreted that the basic pathogenesis characteristic was brain marrow and collateral injury due to deficiency of kidney-essence, function disharmony of entrails, recurrence of exogenous evil. On the other hand, the direction to treatment according to reinforcing kidney and activating blood was brought forward. In the early research, we found Chinese medicine has antihypoxia and neuroprotective effect. Part of the results published in Journal of Neurochemistry. On the basis of previous research results, we carry out the following research. Rats intracerebral injection NMO-IgG will use to establish model of NMO,and the NMO cell model will establish with NMO-IgG co-cultured with astrocytes in the system. The astrocytes was key target in the pathogenesis of NMO.We research the roles of astrocyte activation immune reaction in NMO nerve injury,and astrocytes induced neurotoxicity of complement.We will research the mechanism of astrocytes in NMO neurotoxicity in animal, tissue, cell, molecular. And explore the neuroprotective mechanism of NMO against immune injury about Yishen Huoxue Prescription. From the analysis of the neurotoxicity mechanism and neuroprotective effect in NMO with TCM prescription, we will supply the basis for seaking the preponderance in treating NMO with the TCM and exploring the best opportunity of clinical intervention with the TCM.