Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the brain and spinal cord, in which the immune system attacks the nerve sheaths. This causes MS lesions to appear, leading to neurological failure. Although available MS treatments are highly successful in curbing flare-ups, they have no effect on the actual brain damage. For patients with the progressive form of the disease, whose response to existing drugs is slight, this is a major problem. For this reason, research has been undertaken in the last years to determine the extent to which stem cells might prove useful. This purpose of this project is to determine whether adult multipotent bone marrow cells can help brain recovery. Specifically, we shall be endeavouring to identify the protective molecules released by these stem cells when they come into contact with inflammatory factors, and how these factors can encourage the survival of brain cells. Promising factors will also be tested on an MS animal model to investigate their therapeutic value.