Deficient expression in multiple sclerosis of the inhibitory transcription factor Sp3 in mononuclear blood cells

To evaluate differential gene expression in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and control subjects, we used differential display to screen for messenger RNAs that are differentially expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from monozygotic twins who are discordant for MS. We identified a 232-bp complementary DNA fragment, present only in material from the normal twin, that exhibited 100% identity with the inhibitory transcription factor Sp3. Oligonucleotide primers corresponding to Sp3 messenger RNA sequences amplified complementary DNA of appropriate size from 83% of control subjects but from only 21% of MS patients (p < 0.001). These results suggest that Sp3 gene transcription is suppressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from most MS patients and that other genes whose expression is normally suppressed by Sp3 in immune cells may consequently be overexpressed.