CNTF and neurodegenerative disease: Whereas, exogenous CNTF administration has been shown to exert protective effects in MS and EAE, our data and those of others would caution against the use of CNTF as a neuroprotective agent in that the inflammatory side effects subsequent to delivery may limit the clinical usefulness of administering CNTF in treating neurodegenerative diseases, especially where there is an inflammatory component.