Human endogenous retroviruses are suggested to play a pathogenic role in multiple sclerosis (MS); one of such retroviruses, the MS-associated retroviral agent (MSRV) has repeatedly been isolated in MS patients.
Objective and methods
We analyzed cytokine profiles in MSRV envelope protein (MSRV ENV-SU)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 30 relapsing-remitting MS patients with either acute (AMS) (n = 13) or stable (SMS) (n = 17) disease. Results suggest that MSRV ENV-SU induces the production of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (P < 0.05) and interferon-γ (P < 0.004) in AMS patients and of interleukin-10 (P < 0.05), an inflammation-dampening cytokine, in SMS individuals.
Conclusions
These data strengthen the hypothesis indicating that MSRV could be involved in the pathogenesis of MS.
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