K. Usuku et al., BIASED EXPRESSION OF T-CELL RECEPTOR GENES CHARACTERIZES ACTIVATED T-CELLS IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID, Journal of neuroscience research, 45(6), 1996, pp. 829-837
To better characterize the inflammatory response that occurs in the ne
rvous system in multiple sclerosis (MS), T-cell receptor (TCR) gene ex
pression was quantified from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cells of 21 pat
ients with active disease, Unstimulated CSF cells expressed each of 22
different TCR beta chain variable region (V beta) gene families in pr
oportion to their expression in simultaneously sampled peripheral bloo
d. When CSF cells from individuals with MS were expanded by in vitro c
ulture in T-cell growth factor/interleukin 2 and 4-containing medium (
TCGF/IL2/IL4), restricted numbers of V beta genes were expressed, In m
any subjects, expanded CSF cells expressed predominantly V beta 2. In
contrast to CSF, expansion of corresponding peripheral blood mononucle
ar cells (PBMC) in TCGF/IL2/IL4 resulted in persistent expression of a
ll Vn gene families, Within individuals, different V beta genes were o
verexpressed by PBMC compared with CSF cells. No effect of the HLA hap
lotype of the individual on CSF V beta gene expression was observed, E
xpanded CSF cells retained their capacity to respond to mitogen stimul
ation, but the proliferative response to myelin basic protein (MBP) wa
s not enhanced. Finally, freshly obtained CSF cells stimulated directl
y with MBP also expressed a limited number of V beta genes, although t
hese were generally different from patterns observed following stimula
tion with TCGF/IL2/IL4. Thus, restricted populations of T cells capabl
e of responding to TCGF/IL2/IL4, presumably reflecting in vivo activat
ed cells, are compartmentalized in the nervous system in MS. (C) 1996
Wiley-Liss, Inc.