Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma synthesis by cerebrospinal fluid-derived T cell clones in multiple sclerosis.
T cell clones derived from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were analysed for their capacity to produce interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 4 (IL-4), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). They were also compared with liver-infiltrating T cell clones from patients with chronic active hepatitis. All the CSF T clones (both CD4+ and CD8+) produced large amounts of IFN-gamma and particularly of TNF-alpha, that was synthesized in a significantly larger amount than compared clones. Moreover, they were capable of secreting IL-2, but not IL-4. From our results, we conclude that first, the CSF CD4+ T clones could constitute a subset with functional properties similar to the T helper 1 (Th1)/inflammatory cell subset of the mouse; and second, the large amounts of TNF produced by CSF T cell clones strongly suggests a significant role for this cytokine as well as of IFN-gamma in MS immunopathogenesis.
Benvenuto
R
R
Fondazione Andrea Cesalpino, I Clinica Medica, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Paroli
M
M
Buttinelli
C
C
Franco
A
A
Barnaba
V
V
Fieschi
C
C
Balsano
F
F
D000328:Adult; D002999:Clone Cells; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma