CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2) expression in multiple sclerosis patients: clinical subtype specific variation in peripheral monocytes and B cells and lack of modulation by high dose methylprednisolone
Mt. Boylan et al., CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2) expression in multiple sclerosis patients: clinical subtype specific variation in peripheral monocytes and B cells and lack of modulation by high dose methylprednisolone, J NEUR SCI, 167(2), 1999, pp. 79-89
Autoimmune activation of T cells by central nervous system (CNS)-derived an
tigens is hypothesised to underlie neural damage in multiple sclerosis (MS)
patients. The role of coreceptor mediated signalling is currently under in
vestigation in order to further elucidate the immunopathogenic mechanisms i
mplicated and to determine possible targets for immune modulation. We have
investigated whether differential coreceptor (B7-1/CD80; B7-2/CD86; CD28) e
xpression on circulating lymphocytes and monocytes is (i) a feature of dist
inctive clinical subtypes of MS (relapsing-remitting in remission/stable-RR
MS; relapsing-remitting in relapse/relapsing-RRMS; primary progressive/PPMS
), (ii) related to disease activity, and (iii) altered by high dose cortico
costeroid treatment. CD80(+) B cells were significantly reduced (P<0.05) in
PPMS (4.0+/-0.8%) compared with normal subjects (CON) (9.1+/-1.1%), stable
-RRMS (6.7+/-0.7%) and relapsing-RRMS (7.8+/-0.9%) patients. Comparatively
fewer monocytes from relapsing-RRMS patients expressed CD86 (relapsing-RRMS
50+/-4.9% vs. stable-RRMS 75.1+/-3.4%, PPMS 77.7+/-3.2%, CON 72.1+/-3.6%/P
<0.05). Otherwise expression of coreceptors did not vary significantly betw
een the groups. A 3-day course of methylprednisolone therapy did not alter
coreceptor expression, but did suppress monocyte and B cell HLA-DR expressi
on. There is evidence for differential coreceptor expression on circulating
B cells and monocytes in MS disease subtypes. The biological significance
of these findings is discussed in relation to alternative theories regardin
g coreceptor functioning. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve
d.