Cytokine mRNA levels in mononuclear blood cells from patients with multiple sclerosis.

We determined the cytokine messenger RNA (mRNA) expression pattern of blood mononuclear cells in 45 patients with the relapsing-remitting form of MS and 32 patients with other neurologic diseases. Using a semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction method, we detected significantly higher levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and lymphotoxin mRNA in patients with relapsing compared to those with stable disease (p < 0.001), but transforming growth factor-beta and interleukin-10 mRNA expressions were higher in patients with stable disease.