Different Expressions of Specific Transcription Factors of Th1 () and Th2 cells () by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells From Patients With Multiple Sclerosis.

INTRODUCTION

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disorder caused by self-reactive Th1 lymphocytes, while Th2 cells may confer protection. The Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation are regulated by specific transcription factors, especially and , respectively. This investigation aimed to measure the and expression by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) obtained from MS patients after specific and non-specific in vitro stimulation.

METHODS

The PBMCs were separated from 22 patients with MS and 20 healthy individuals. They were cultured at 37°C for 24 h in the absence of a stimulator or in the presence of Myelin oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) or Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) at a concentration of 10 μg/mL. Then the and expression was measured by real time-PCR.

RESULTS

The expression was enhanced, while the expression diminished. Therefore the expression of / ratio diminished in not-stimulated, MOG-stimulated and PHA-stimulated PBMCs from MS patients compared with equal cultures from the healthy individuals (P<0.01, P<0.01 and P<0.01, for ; P<0.03, P<0.01 and P<0.02, for ; P<0.01, P<0.001 and P<0.01 for / ratio, respectively). The not-stimulated, MOG-stimulated, and PHA-stimulated PBMCs from men with MS expressed higher amounts of than equal cells from MS women (P<0.05, P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSION

These results probably indicate an imbalance in Th1/Th2 cells in the level of transcription factors with a tendency toward Th1 cells in MS. The clinical utilization of the transcription factors as novel biomarkers of MS should be evaluated in further studies.