Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) mRNA level correlates with magnetic resonance imaging disease activity in Multiple Sclerosis patients

Eight relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients were tested for the level of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) mRNA in periphe ral blood mononuclear cells every 15 days for 6 months. Disease activity wa s evaluated every 4 weeks by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neurologi cal examination. An inverse correlation was found between the level of TGF beta 1 mRNA and MRI disease activity. The level of TGF beta I mRNA predicte d the presence of disease activity in the scans performed 2-4 weeks later w ith high sensitivity (88%) and specificity (87.5%) suggesting that TGF beta 1 mRNA quantification could be an indicator of disease activity in MS. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.