Optic neuritis: chemokine receptor CXCR3 and its ligands.
OBJECTIVE
To study the involvement of the chemokine receptor CXCR3 and its ligands (CXCL9/Mig, CXCL10/IP-10, CXCL11/ITAC) in optic neuritis (ON).


METHODS
30 patients with ON and 10 non-inflammatory neurological disease controls were included. The patients underwent a phlebotomy, lumbar puncture, and MRI scan. CXCR3 expression was studied on blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) T cells by flow cytometry. CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 were measured in plasma and CSF by ELISA.


RESULTS
CSF concentrations of CXCL10, but not of CXCL9 and CXCL11, were significantly higher in ON patients than in controls. CSF concentrations of CXCL10 correlated with the CSF leucocyte count in ON patients, and CXCR3 expressing cells were significantly enriched in the CSF.


CONCLUSIONS
These data show that the CSF concentration of the CXCR3 ligand CXCL10 is selectively increased in CSF from ON patients, and CXCR3 positive cells are recruited to the subarachnoid space.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Copenhagen, Herlev Hospital, 2720 Herlev, Denmark. torbenls@dadlnet.dk
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Sørensen
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Roed
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Sellebjerg
D000328:Adult; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D054371:Chemokine CXCL11; D054370:Chemokine CXCL9; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
C515202:CXCL11 protein, human; C080810:CXCL9 protein, human; C515187:CXCR3 protein, human; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D054371:Chemokine CXCL11; D054370:Chemokine CXCL9; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine