Expression of chemokine receptor CXCR3 on cerebrospinal fluid T-cells is related to active MRI lesion appearance in patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

• Published in: Journal of neuroimmunology 2002-10, Vol.131 (1), p.186-190
• Main Authors: Sindern, Eckhart, Patzold, Tanja, Ossege, Ludgera Manuela, Gisevius, Astrid, Malin, Jean-Pierre
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; CD3 Complex - analysis; Chemokine CXCL10; Chemokines, CXC - blood; Chemokines, CXC - cerebrospinal fluid; CXCL10; CXCR3; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - cerebrospinal fluid; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - immunology; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - pathology; Receptors, Chemokine - metabolism; Receptors, CXCR3; T-cells; T-Lymphocytes - immunology
• ISSN: 0165-5728; 1872-8421
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-5728(02)00263-1

We evaluated CXCR3 expression on T-cells and levels of its ligand CXCL10 in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 22 patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) in association with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disease activity. CXCL10 was strongly released intrathecally, but did not change in association with MRI activity. CXCR3 expression on T-cells was lower in the peripheral blood (PB) of RR-MS patients compared to healthy controls and was increased in the CSF of RR-MS patients undergoing acute attacks, as illustrated by Gd-enhancing lesions on MRI, compared to patients without enhancing lesion. Our results suggest that MRI-documented disease activity is associated with an increase of CXCR3 positive T-cells in the CSF, possibly due to the migration of activated T-cells from the circulation into the CSF.