Multiple sclerosis-associated retroviral agent (MSRV)-stimulated cytokine production in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Human endogenous retroviruses are suggested to play a pathogenic role in multiple sclerosis (MS); one of such retroviruses, the MS-associated retroviral agent (MSRV) has repeatedly been isolated in MS patients.


OBJECTIVE
We analyzed cytokine profiles in MSRV envelope protein (MSRV ENV-SU)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 30 relapsing-remitting MS patients with either acute (AMS) (n = 13) or stable (SMS) (n = 17) disease. Results suggest that MSRV ENV-SU induces the production of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (P < 0.05) and interferon-gamma (P < 0.004) in AMS patients and of interleukin-10 (P < 0.05), an inflammation-dampening cytokine, in SMS individuals.


CONCLUSIONS
These data strengthen the hypothesis indicating that MSRV could be involved in the pathogenesis of MS.
Saresella
M
M
Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology, Don C. Gnocchi ONLUS Foundation IRCCS, Via Capecelatro, 66, Milano 20148, Italy.
Rolland
A
A
Marventano
I
I
Cavarretta
R
R
Caputo
D
D
Marche
P
P
Perron
H
H
Clerici
M
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D017252:CD3 Complex; D016207:Cytokines; C508609:IL10 protein, human; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma