Immune responses to antigens of human endogenous retroviruses in patients with acute or stable multiple sclerosis.
A possible role for human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) in the pathogenesis of MS was investigated by analyzing HERV peptides-stimulated proliferation and cytokine production in MS patients with acute (AMS) or stable (SMS) disease. HERV peptides specific-proliferation and type 1 cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells was observed in AMS but not in SMS individuals, in whom a type 2 cytokine profile dominates. HERV peptides-stimulated immune responses were modified by changes in disease expression; mediated by CD4+ T lymphocytes; and not related to HLA class II molecules. These data suggest the possibility of a pathogenic role for HERV and HERV-specific immune responses in MS.
Clerici
M
M
Cattedra di Immunologia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Padiglione LITA, Ospedale L. Sacco, Milan, Italy. mago@imiucca.csi.unimi.it
Fusi
M L
ML
Caputo
D
D
Guerini
F R
FR
Trabattoni
D
D
Salvaggio
A
A
Cazzullo
C L
CL
Arienti
D
D
Villa
M L
ML
Urnovitz
H B
HB
Ferrante
P
P
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003429:Cross Reactions; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D001323:Autoantibodies; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007376:Interleukin-2; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma