title: Leukocyte chemotactic factor, a natural ligand to CD4, is expressed by lymphocytes and microglial cells of the MS plaque.
abstract: The leukocyte chemotactic factor (LCF) is a proinflammatory cytokine and natural soluble ligand to the human CD4 molecule. LCF is produced by CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and is considered essential to the influx of CD4+ T lymphocytes and macrophages into an inflammatory lesion. In order to investigate the role of LCF in the multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion, we have used a synthetic gene to express LCF in E. coli and have produced monoclonal antibodies against LCF. Monoclonal antibodies are suited to demonstrate LCF in ELISAs. Western blots and paraffin-embedded tissue sections. In the MS lesion, immunopositive lymphocytes and microglial cells, notably, have been found. This is the first demonstration that LCF is present in MS lesions. Immunostaining of microglial cells is noteworthy, as these cells are strategically placed regulatory elements of CNS immunosurveillance and like other cells of the monocytic lineage express CD4 molecules. Thus, LCF might be a paracrine factor regulating T-lymphocyte chemoattraction and an autocrine molecule regulating microglial cell immune reactivity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schluesener
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seid
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kretzschmar
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meyermann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008024:Ligands; D008264:Macrophages; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017628:Microglia / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D002630:Chemotactic Factors; C495039:GDNF protein, human; C495040:Gdnf protein, mouse; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D008024:Ligands; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C000608036:PGF protein, human; C000608037:Pgf protein, mouse; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor