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High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes
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High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes

Published on: March 24, 2015

Interferon production and natural killer (NK) activity in leukocyte cultures from multiple sclerosis patients

G Vervliet, H Claeys, H Van Haver

    Journal of the Neurological Sciences
    |July 1, 1983
    PubMed

    Insights

    Multiple Sclerosis patients show reduced production of interferon-gamma (HuIFN-gamma) from peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) compared to healthy donors. This impaired immune response correlates with disease severity.

    Area of Science:

    • Immunology
    • Neuroimmunology

    Background:

    • Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system.
    • Immune dysregulation, particularly involving T-cell responses and cytokine production, is implicated in MS pathogenesis.
    • Human Interferon-gamma (HuIFN-gamma) plays a critical role in immune regulation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the production of HuIFN-gamma by peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) in response to Concanavalin A (ConA) in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
    • To assess the production of Human Interferon-alpha (HuIFN-alpha) in response to Sendai virus in MS patients.
    • To evaluate Natural Killer (NK) cell activity in MS patients and its correlation with disease parameters and HLA-DR2 status.

    Main Methods:

    • Cultures of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) from MS patients and healthy donors were stimulated with Concanavalin A (ConA) or Sendai virus.
    • Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) production was measured.
    • Natural Killer (NK) cell activity was assessed.
    • Correlations with clinical data, including disease duration, disability indices, and HLA-DR2 status, were analyzed.

    Main Results:

    • Only 37% of MS patients' PBL cultures produced detectable HuIFN-gamma in response to ConA, compared to 85% of controls.
    • HuIFN-gamma yields in responsive MS patient cultures were comparable to controls.
    • HuIFN-alpha production was not aberrant in MS patients.
    • Failure to produce HuIFN-gamma correlated with higher disability indices and disease progression rates in MS patients.
    • NK cell activities were generally normal in MS patients, with a trend towards lower activity in HLA-DR2 positive MS patients.

    Conclusions:

    • MS patients exhibit a reduced capacity to produce HuIFN-gamma upon ConA stimulation, suggesting a specific immune defect.
    • This impaired HuIFN-gamma response is linked to disease severity in MS.
    • NK cell activity appears largely unaffected, although HLA-DR2 status may influence NK cell function in MS patients.

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