title: Mitogenic response and steroid sensitivity in MS lymphocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated mitogenic response and steroid sensitivity in multiple sclerosis (MS) lymphocytes to establish if MS lymphocytes were less steroid responsive.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared mitogenic response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and inhibition by dexamethasone (DEX) in circulating lymphocytes from both MS patients and healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a range of responses in each group but no significant differences between the two groups, nor in patients with and without enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging. The mid-inhibitory concentration of DEX in response to 1 microg/ml PHA was significantly lower than that for 2.5 microg/ml PHA in the patients. The mid-inhibitory concentrations of DEX in response to 2.5 microg/ml PHA negatively correlated with endogenous serum cortisol concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data imply a spectrum of glucocorticoid response that is similar in normal and MS lymphocytes and can partly explain why response to steroid therapy is variable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurology, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lightman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000502:physiology*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008934:Mitogens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D003907:Dexamethasone