Chemokine MCP-1 And RANTES In Patients With Acute Multiple Sclerosis

ObjectiveMultiple Sclerosis (MS) is considered to be an immune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system(CNS)of unknown etiology. Multifocal mononuclear cell infiltrates in brain white matter and demyelinative constitute hallmarks of MS. Activated autoreactive CD/T cell and macrophages are recruited to the CNS by releasing a cascade of cytokines ultimately leading to further cell accumulation, inflammation and tissue damage.Chemokines are low molecular weight chemotactic cytokines with potent chemoattractant activity for lymphocyte and monocytes that are implicated in the immunopathogenesis of MS.In the study, we observed the chemokine expression in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with acute Multiple Sclerosis and demonstrated they are involved in the pathogenesis of MS.Subjects and MethodsSubjects We studied 20 patients suffering fromclinical definite MS and clinical probable MS in an acute phase, according to Poster et al.' 1983 criteria. All were studied within 1 week of the onset of clinical symptoms. 16 patients suffered from tension headache and neurasthenia as controls.Methods MCP-1 and RANTES levels were measured witha commercial ELISA, in accordance with the manufacturer' instructions (SHANGHAI ShenXiong company).Statistical Methods Data were analyzed with SPSS,presented as means ?S. E. M. Statistical evaluation was performed with Mann and Whitney. Statistical significance was set at p<0. 05. The r value was calculated to analyze correlations between CSF IgG index and chemokine levels.ResultsMCP-1 concentration in CSF and serum from acute MS patients was diminished compared to controls.RANTES concentration in CSF and serum from acute MS patients was increased compared to controls.CSF concentrations of MCP-1 and RANTES in acute MS patients did not correlate with CSF IgG index.ConclusionsWe studied two chemokines concentration in CSF and serum in aeute MS patients. MCP-1 decreased can be related to the regulation of Thj/Th2 lymphocyte differentiation. RANTES increase can be thought this chemokine is involved in pathogenesis of MS. The interaction of multiple factors likely plays a role in the disease. These two chemokines may be important in the pathogenesis of MS, enhancing the inflammatory with in the nervous system.