IL-6 detection in multiple sclerosis brain.
By using a double-label immunohistochemistry technique, we demonstrated the presence of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in acute and chronic active plaques from the brain of six patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). IL-6 was mainly associated with astrocytes and rarely with macrophages or mononuclear infiltrating cells. The pattern of distribution for IL-6 immunoreactivity was similar to that of HLA-DR expression, but the two molecules almost never colocalized on the same cell. Our data indicate that in MS central nervous system IL-6 is predominantly located within resident glial cells which are concentrated at the sites of ongoing demyelination and immune activation. Although IL-6 exhibits several proinflammatory activities, indirect evidence suggests that the cytokine may also play an immunomodulatory role in inflammatory demyelinating disorders.
Maimone
D
D
Institute of Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Italy.
Guazzi
G C
GC
Annunziata
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*
D015850:Interleukin-6