No evidence for elevated numbers of mononuclear cells expressing MCP-1 andRANTES mRNA in blood and CSF in multiple sclerosis

The perivascular accumulation of mononuclear cells (MNC) in brain white mat ter is critical in the development of active lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS). Chemokines contribute to leukocyte recruitment by increasing the adhe siveness of integrins expressed on leukocytes and by promoting migration th rough endothelium and extracellular matrix. By using an in situ hybridizati on technique, it was possible to enumerate blood and CSF MNC expressing mRN A for the two CC chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cells, expressed and secreted) in MS patients and controls. No differences in numbers of blood MNC express ing MCP-1 or RANTES could be found in MS patients compared to healthy indiv iduals or patients with acute aseptic meningoencephalitis (AM). High number s of CSF MNC expressing MCP-1 and RANTES were found in some MS patients, bu t also in patients with AM. This shows that elevated numbers of MCP-1 and R ANTES mRNA expressing CSF MNC are not specific for the inflammatory process in MS. We conclude that there is no evidence for a systemic dysregulation of the CC chemokines MCP-1 and RANTES in MS. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.