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.
Centre for Molecular Biology and Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
E R
ER
Brandt
I R
IR
Mackay
P J
PJ
Hertzog
B F
BF
Cheetham
M
M
Sherritt
C C
CC
Bernard
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