Premium
pSTAT1, pSTAT3, and T‐bet expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis patients correlates with disease activity
Author(s) -
Frisullo Giovanni,
Angelucci Francesco,
Caggiula Marcella,
Nociti Viviana,
Iorio Raffaele,
Patanella Agata Katia,
Sancricca Cristina,
Mirabella Massimiliano,
Tonali Pietro Attilio,
Batocchi Anna Paola
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.20995
Subject(s) - peripheral blood mononuclear cell , medicine , cd8 , immunology , multiple sclerosis , t cell , interferon gamma , cytokine , immune system , biology , in vitro , biochemistry
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, and it is considered to be a T helper 1 (Th1) cell‐mediated autoimmune disease. T‐bet has been identified as a key transcription factor for the development of Th1 cells and the induction of interferon (IFN)‐γ production. T‐bet is induced during T‐cell activation by the IFN‐γ signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)‐1 signalling pathway. In this study we found an up‐regulation of T‐bet and pSTAT1 in peripheral blood CD4 + and CD8 + T cells and monocytes from relapsing‐remitting MS patients in relapse compared with patients in remission and with healthy subjects. The increased expression of pSTAT1 strongly correlated with T‐bet expression in CD4 + and CD8 + cells and monocytes from patients in relapse and was associated with an increased production of IFN‐γ by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). pSTAT3 was also up‐regulated in CD4 + and CD8 + cells and monocytes from patients in relapse and was associated with an increased production of interleukin (IL)‐10 but not of IL‐6. pSTAT1, pSTAT3, and T‐bet expression strongly correlated with Gd‐DTPA‐enhanced lesions on brain and spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging. Our data show for the first time that there is an up‐regulation of type 1 immunity‐correlated transcription factors such as STAT1 and T‐bet in peripheral blood subpopulations of MS patients in the active phase of disease. The evaluation of T‐bet and pSTAT1 expression in peripheral blood CD4 + , CD8 + T cells and monocytes could be used as a marker of disease activity in relapsing‐remitting MS. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.