Molecular detection of interferon-alpha expression in multiple sclerosis brain.
The demonstration of intermittent interferonaemia in patients with multiple sclerosis prompted a molecular analysis of brain tissue for expression of interferon-alpha genes. A sensitive method was developed based on the polymerase chain reaction. Primer sets were used that could amplify all interferons-alpha or two particular subtypes, interferon-alpha 2 and interferon-alpha 4. The procedure was successful in detecting expression of interferons-alpha in brain and non-brain tissues in most patients with multiple sclerosis. However, expression was demonstrable also in a similar proportion of patients with other neural diseases, and patients with other illnesses. The data indicate that there can be constitutive expression of interferons-alpha in brain tissue, but the possibility that this becomes amplified in multiple sclerosis was not revealed by this study.
Brandt
E R
ER
Centre for Molecular Biology and Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
Mackay
I R
IR
Hertzog
P J
PJ
Cheetham
B F
BF
Sherritt
M
M
Bernard
C C
CC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger