Expression of costimulatory molecules and cytokines in CSF and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from multiple sclerosis patients

We amplified the mRNA for cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMC) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cells from 18 multiple sclerosis (MS) p atients and 21 other neurological patients, using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Radioactive hybridization of the ampli fied DNA allowed quantitation of mRNA levels. Expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and interleukin (IL)-10 mRNA wa s elevated in CSF cells from MS patients, IFN-gamma and ILIO mRNA levels we re higher in MS patients than in other inflammatory neurological diseases. mRNA coding for transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta was detectable in the majority of cases, with higher expression in CSF cells of MS and other inf lammatory neurological diseases than in noninflammatory controls, and highe r expression in PBMC of MS patients than in all other cases. In many MS pat ients, both proinflammatory and immunoregulatory cytokine messages were def ected in the CSF compartment without correlation with the clinical activity of the disease. In contrast, mRNA for the costimulatory molecule B7.1 was only detected in the CSF cells of some MS patients, who showed clinical sig ns of acute relapse at the time of the spinal tap.