Expression of the interferon-gamma-inducible chemokines IP-10 and Mig and their receptor, CXCR3, in multiple sclerosis lesions

The recruitment of leucocytes to sites of inflammation is an important feat ure of multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology. Chemokines are involved in the ac tivation and specific directional migration of monocytes and T-lymphocytes to sites of inflammation. Using immunocytochemistry, the expression of the alpha-chemokines, interferon (IFN)-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) and m onokine induced by IFN-gamma (Mig), and their receptor CXCR3 have been exam ined in post-mortem central nervous system (CNS) tissue from MS cases at di fferent stages of lesion development. In actively demyelinating lesions bot h IP-10 and Mig protein were predominantly expressed by macrophages within the plaque and by reactive astrocytes in the surrounding parenchyma. CXCR3 was expressed by T cells and by astrocytes within the plaque. Interferon-ga mma may stimulate glial cells to express IP-10 and Mig, which continue the local inflammatory response by selectively recruiting activated T-lymphocyt es into the CNS.