Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS)-autoreactive immune responses can exert neuroprotective effects, possibly mediated via the release of neurotrophic factors from infiltrating leucocytes. Herein, we analysed neurotrophin and cytokine mRNA levels using TaqMan polymerase chain reaction in unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in remission and controls. We demonstrate that mRNA for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), but not neurotrophin-3 or nerve growth factor (NGF), is readily detectable in PBMC and that levels in MS are increased by approximately 60% compared with patients with other neurological diseases or healthy subjects. These results provide additional evidence that a potentially neuroprotective facet of autoimmune inflammation is present in MS.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Autoimmune Diseases / blood*
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Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
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Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / biosynthesis
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Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / blood*
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Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / genetics
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Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / physiology
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Female
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Humans
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Interleukin-10 / blood
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Interleukin-10 / genetics
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Leukocytes / classification
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Leukocytes / metabolism*
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / blood*
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Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / immunology
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Nerve Growth Factor / blood
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Nerve Growth Factor / genetics
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Nervous System Diseases / blood
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Nervous System Diseases / immunology
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Neurotrophin 3 / blood
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Polymerase Chain Reaction
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RNA, Messenger / blood*
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / analysis
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics
Substances
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Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
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Neurotrophin 3
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RNA, Messenger
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
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Interleukin-10
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Nerve Growth Factor