[Cytokine-secreting cells in relapsing multiple sclerosis patients treated with high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone].

Interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), interferon gamma (INF gamma), interleukin-4 (IL-4) secreting peripheral blood cells were enumerated by enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay in 9 relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone (MP), in 7 MS patients with remission,and in 9 controls. IL-2, IL-2R, INF gamma, IL-4 secreting cells were significantly higher before MP therapy in relapsing MS patients as compared with after MP therapy in relapsing MS patients, with MS patients in remission, and with controls. IL-2, INF gamma secreting cells before MP in relapsing MS patients and those in remission significantly increased in response to myelin basic protein (MBP) 4-14, 68-84 and proteolipid protein (PLP). INF gamma secreting cells after MP therapy in relapsing MS patients significantly increased in response to MBP 4-14, 68-84, and PLP. IL-2R secreting cells in MS patients in remission significantly increased in response to MBP 4-14, 68-84, and PLP and were significantly higher after MP therapy in relapsing MS patients and in controls. This fact suggested that there was a systemic T-cell response to myelin antigens in MS patients in remission. The use of ELISPOT to investigate cytokine-secreting cells may play a role in the evaluation of clinical activity during treatment with high-dose intra-venous MP in relapsing MS patients.