title: Decreased IL-3 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: The production of interleukin-3 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) was assessed in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) in both the active and the stable state, and in healthy controls. IL-3 levels were compared to levels of production of interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN). No significant differences in IL-3 levels were observed between stable-state patients and controls. When levels of cytokine production of patients in the inactive phase were compared to those of the same patients during relapse a significant decrease in IL-3 levels was observed, as opposed to significant increases in gamma-IFN and TNF levels, and an increase, though a non-significant, in IL-2 levels. The functional significance of lowered IL-3 production is unknown. However, the findings support the hypothesis of a highly complex interaction of overlapping regulatory influences within the cytokine network which parallels MS disease activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Meir Hospital, Kfar Sava, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huberman
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shalit
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roth-Deri
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gutman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kott
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sredni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D007377:Interleukin-3; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma