Multiple sclerosis-associated retroviral agent (MSRV)-stimulated cytokine production in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Background 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-alpha (P < 0.05) and interferon-gamma (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. Multiple Sclerosis 2009; 15: 443-447. http://msj.sagepub.com