title: Genetic susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in Sardinians: an immunological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied the in vitro production of variably MS-related cytokines from Sardinian MS and healthy donors bearing the two "Sardinian" MS-associated HLA-DR alleles: DR3 and DR4, with the purpose to evidentiate possible differences in their immune response.
  
  
  METHODS
  ELISA were used for detection of cellular products by mitogen-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PHA-activated HLA-DR4+/DR3- mononuclear cells produce significantly higher amounts of TNF-alpha compared with the DR3+/DR4-. In addition, homozygous HLA-DR3+ mononuclear cells from MS patients produce significantly lower amounts of IL-10 than those from homozygous HLA-DR3+ healthy donors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The abnormal production of detrimental or regulatory cytokines may account for the genetic susceptibility to MS in different HLA-subgroups of Sardinian MS patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Neurology, University of Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sotgiu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Marrosu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dolei
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pugliatti
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Murgia
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aiello
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rosati
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens