title: Are natural killer cells involved in multiple sclerosis etiology? Evidences from NKp46/NCR1 receptor modulation in an observational study.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) cells are implicated in many autoimmune diseases but their role in multiple sclerosis (MS) remains still unknown. This study was aimed to evaluate the expression levels of a NK cell receptor (NCR1) in patients with diagnosis of MS. Particularly, the study took into account patients undergoing pharmacological therapy with interferon-beta or natalizumab and patients never treated since first-time diagnosed for MS. Expression levels of NCR1 receptor were evaluated in protein extracts of peripheral blood mononuclear cells performing western blot analysis. Our results show that MS patients display higher NCR1 expression levels than healthy controls. Moreover, patients with a first diagnosis of MS display the highest level of NCR1 when compared with patients pharmacologically treated with interferon-beta or natalizumab. Therefore, pharmacologically treated MS patients show a modulated NK cell expression.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Via Provinciale Palermo, S.S.113, contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galuppo
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Via Provinciale Palermo, S.S.113, contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giacoppo
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Via Provinciale Palermo, S.S.113, contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sessa
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Via Provinciale Palermo, S.S.113, contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Placido
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bramanti
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Via Provinciale Palermo, S.S.113, contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy. Electronic address: emazzon.irccs@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazzon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D000069442:Natalizumab; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019370:Observation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007155:Immunologic Factors; C112260:NCR1 protein, human; D000069442:Natalizumab; D055627:Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor 1; D016899:Interferon-beta
keywords: Interferon-beta; Multiple sclerosis; NKp46/NCR1 receptor; Natalizumab; Natural killer cells; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells