Presence of detectable levels of soluble HLA-G molecules in CSF of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: relationship with CSF soluble HLA-I and IL-10 concentrations and MRI findings

J Neuroimmunol. 2003 Sep;142(1-2):149-58. doi: 10.1016/s0165-5728(03)00266-2.

Abstract

We have investigated the presence of non-classical soluble HLA-G molecules (sHLA-G) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and the possible relationships between CSF levels of sHLA-G, classical soluble HLA-I (sHLA-I) molecules, IL-10 amounts and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings were evaluated. We studied by ELISA technique the sHLA-I, sHLA-G and IL-10 levels in CSF of 50 relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients stratified according to clinical and MRI evidence of disease activity. Thirty-six patients with other inflammatory neurological disorders (OIND) and 41 with non-inflammatory neurological disorders (NIND) were used as controls. CSF mean levels were significantly higher in MS and OIND than in NIND for sHLA-I (p<0.001) and in MS than in controls for sHLA-G (p<0.001), with no differences among the various groups for IL-10 mean concentrations. An increase in CSF sHLA-I was found in MS patients with Gd-enhancing lesions (p<0.01), while sHLA-G and IL-10 were more represented in MS patients without lesional activity on MRI scans (p<0.02). In MRI-inactive MS, CSF IL-10 mean concentrations were significantly greater in patients with CSF-detectable levels of sHLA-G than in those without any evidence of CSF sHLA-G expression (p<0.05). Our findings suggest that CSF classical sHLA-I and non-classical sHLA-G levels may modulate MS activity as assessed by MRI acting in opposite directions. The association observed between sHLA-G and IL-10 when Gd-enhancing lesion resolved indicates a potential immunoregulatory role for IL-10 in the control of MS disease activity by shifting the sHLA-I/sHLA-G balance towards sHLA-G response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Blotting, Western
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Gadolinium
  • HLA Antigens / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • HLA Antigens / immunology
  • HLA-G Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Inflammation / diagnosis
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Interleukin-10 / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging* / methods
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging* / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / diagnosis
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / immunology*
  • Nervous System Diseases / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Nervous System Diseases / diagnosis
  • Nervous System Diseases / immunology
  • Solubility

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • HLA Antigens
  • HLA-G Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Interleukin-10
  • Gadolinium