Biomedical subjects

A Toscas

Publications and source records attributed to A Toscas.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Contrasting effects of alpha, beta, and gamma interferons on nonspecific suppressor function in multiple sclerosis.

Interferons are biological molecules with antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory actions. Interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) and -beta are potentially useful in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). IFN-gamma, in contrast, increases the frequency of exacerbations of MS. In this study, we compared the effect of recombinant human IFN-alpha, -beta, and -gamma on suppressor function in patients with MS. Nonspecific suppressor cell function, measured in a concanavalin A suppressor assay, was significantly decreased in 16 patients with progressive MS (mean percent suppression +/- SEM, 14.4 +/- 5.5 in patients with MS, 33.5 +/- 4.8 in 16 normal subjects; p less than 0.001). Recombinant human IFN-beta augmented suppressor function in MS to 45.4 +/- 5.1% (p less than 0.001) and in control subjects to 56.8 +/- 3.8% (p less than 0.001). Similarly, recombinant human IFN-alpha improved suppression in MS to 43.0 +/- 5.6% (p less than 0.001) and in control subjects to 51.1 +/- 5.9% (p less than 0.001). In contrast, recombinant human IFN-gamma had no effect on suppressor function in patients with MS and in control subjects. This study shows that IFN-alpha and -beta augment deficient suppressor function in MS, whereas IFN-gamma has no effect on suppressor function in the progressive phase of the disease.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Preferential increase of IL-2R+ CD4+ T cells and CD45RB- CD4+ T cells in the central nervous system in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

We examined lymphocytes isolated from the spinal cord (SC), peripheral blood (PB) and lymph nodes (LN) draining the immunization site of Lewis rats with acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). Cells were analysed for T cell subset markers CD4 (mAb W3/25) and CD8 (mAb OX8), for IL-2R (mAb OX39), and for high molecular mass leukocyte common antigen (LCA, CD45RB) expression (mAb OX22). T cells expressing high (CD45RB+) or low (CD45RB-) molecular mass LCA are of different maturational stages and/or separate lineages. CD4+ T cells were more predominant in SC than in PB and LN; CD8+ T cells were scarce in SC but common in PB and LN. Activated CD4+ T cells (IL-2R+) were common in the SC and LN but infrequent in blood. CD4+ T cells that were CD45RB+ were scarce in the SC. In contrast, the majority of CD4+ T cells in the PB and LN were CD45RB+. The preferential accumulation of IL-2R+ CD4+ T cells and of CD45RB- CD4+ T cells in the central nervous system (CNS) indicates that a selective mechanism directs cell egress into CNS lesions in EAE.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Interferon beta augments suppressor cell function in multiple sclerosis.

Suppressor cell function has been previously reported to be decreased in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). The abnormality could not be corrected in vitro and was present even after patients were treated with immunosuppressive agents. We now report that interferon beta augments suppressor cell function in vitro in progressive MS. Nonspecific suppressor cell function as measured in a concanavalin A (Con A) suppressor assay was reduced in 24 MS patients (mean percent suppression, 19.6 +/- 2.2) when compared to 19 normal subjects (mean percent suppression, 35.0 +/- 3.3). The data are highly significant (p less than 0.001). When recombinant human interferon beta (10(3) units/ml) was added to lymphocyte cultures with Con A, suppressor activity improved significantly. The mean percent suppression improved from 19.6 +/- 2.2 to 37.8 +/- 2.6 in MS (p less than 0.001) and from 35.0 +/- 3.3 to 46.2 +/- 3.5 (p less than 0.025) in control subjects. This study shows that recombinant interferon beta improves suppressor function in humans, an effect that is particularly significant in progressive MS.

Adult↗