Costimulatory molecules B7-1 and B7-2 on CSF cells in multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis

The aberrant expression of B7 costimulatory molecules is involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and overexpression of B7-1 was found in inflammatory multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions. We here report that costimulatory molecules B7-1 and B7-2 are expressed on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) monocytes and B-lymphocytes from patients with MS, optic neuritis (ON) and other inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) diseases. In patients with ON but not MS, increased expression of B7-2 was detected as compared to non-inflammatory controls. The expression of B7-1 in MS and ON patients correlates with disease duration but not with relapses in patients with MS indicating a role in early disease but not as a reliable marker of disease activity at later stages of MS.