title: Characterization of T cell lines derived from glatiramer-acetate-treated multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: We analyzed the effects of glatiramer acetate (GA) therapy on in vitro proliferative responses and cytokine production by lymphocytes derived from multiple sclerosis patients receiving this therapy. We confirmed that lymphocytes derived from GA naïve patients show a high frequency of response when initially exposed to GA in vitro; this frequency decreased following GA therapy. The frequency of lymphocytes responding to whole MBP stimulation did not change with GA therapy. GA- and MBP-specific T cell lines generated from these patients by repeated cycles of in vitro stimulation did not cross react. Some (23%) whole MBP-reactive T cell lines did cross react with MBP peptide 83-99. The mean levels of interferon (IFN) gamma secretion and the mean ratio of IFN-gamma/IL-5 were lower for GA-reactive cell lines, derived from patients both prior to and during GA therapy, compared to MBP-reactive T cell lines. The proportion of IFN-gamma(+) cells in unfractionated lymphocyte preparations derived from the GA-treated patients did not differ from that found for healthy controls. Our findings indicate that GA-reactive T cell lines derived from GA-treated MS patients continue to show a relative Th2 cytokine bias consistent with a bystander suppressor function. GA treatment is not associated with a cytokine phenotype shift in the total T cell or MBP-reactive T cell populations.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Quebec, H3A 2B4, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: D Q
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prat
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pouly
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Antel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015848:Interleukin-5; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D010455:Peptides; D016753:Interleukin-10; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D007371:Interferon-gamma