CCR5(+) and CXCR3(+) T cells are increased in multiple sclerosis and their ligands MIP-1alpha and IP-10 are expressed in demyelinating brain lesions.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a T cell-dependent chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. The role of chemokines in MS and its different stages is uncertain. Recent data suggest a bias in expression of chemokine receptors by Th1 vs. Th2 cells; human Th1 clones express CXCR3 and CCR5 and Th2 clones express CCR3 and CCR4. Chemokine receptors expressed by Th1 cells may be important in MS, as increased interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) precedes clinical attacks, and IFN-gamma injection induces disease exacerbations. We found CXCR3(+) T cells increased in blood of relapsing-remitting MS, and both CCR5(+) and CXCR3(+) T cells increased in progressive MS compared with controls. Furthermore, peripheral blood CCR5(+) T cells secreted high levels of IFN-gamma. In the brain, the CCR5 ligand, MIP-1alpha, was strongly associated with microglia/macrophages, and the CXCR3 ligand, IP-10, was expressed by astrocytes in MS lesions but not unaffected white matter of control or MS subjects. Areas of plaque formation were infiltrated by CCR5-expressing and, to a lesser extent, CXCR3-expressing cells; Interleukin (IL)-18 and IFN-gamma were expressed in demyelinating lesions. No leukocyte expression of CCR3, CCR4, or six other chemokines, or anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, and transforming growth factor-beta was observed. Thus, chemokine receptor expression may be used for immunologic staging of MS and potentially for other chronic autoimmune/inflammatory processes such as rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune diabetes, or chronic transplant rejection. Furthermore, these results provide a rationale for the use of agents that block CCR5 and/or CXCR3 as a therapeutic approach in the treatment of MS.
Balashov
K E
KE
Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Rottman
J B
JB
Weiner
H L
HL
Hancock
W W
WW
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D054405:Chemokine CCL3; D054407:Chemokine CCL4; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D008024:Ligands; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D019402:Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000276:immunology*; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
C515187:CXCR3 protein, human; D054405:Chemokine CCL3; D054407:Chemokine CCL4; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D008024:Ligands; D019402:Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins; D019713:Receptors, CCR5; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D007371:Interferon-gamma