IL-3-LA production by mononuclear cells of patients with multiple sclerosis: effect of treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins.
IL-3-like activity (IL-3-LA) is a growth factor that stimulates stem cell maturation. We examined the production of IL-3-LA by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 10 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) following one year of treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG). The results were compared with those obtained in 13 age- and sex-matched untreated patients with relapsing-remitting MS and in 14 healthy controls. IL-3-LA was assayed using the IL-3-dependent 32-D-cl-23 murine cell line. IL-3-LA production was 60% higher in untreated MS patients than in healthy controls (134 +/- 19 u/ml and 78.7 +/- 15.9 u/ml, respectively; p < 0.01), and lower in patients treated with IVIG than in untreated patients (101.4 +/- 4.9 u/ml; p < 0.02). IL-3-LA production also decreased after incubation of mononuclear cells with IVIG of both untreated MS patients and controls. This study indicates a possible beneficial effect of IVIG on the immunological status of MS patients.
Department of Neurology, Beilinson Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
R
R
Djaldetti
A
A
Achiron
I
I
Ziv
M
M
Djaldetti
E
E
Melamed
P
P
Fishman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007377:Interleukin-3