Immunomodulatory properties of increased levels of liver X receptor β in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from multiple sclerosis patients

Liver X receptors (LXR alpha and LXR beta) are nuclear transcription factors that inhibit transcription of genes of inflammation while inducing HMGCoA reductase. In this paper we demonstrate increased mRNA levels of LXR beta in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from multiple sclerosis patients with respect to other neurological patients and healthy controls (HQ (p<0.01). Agonist-induced activation of LXRs partially counteracts the anti-CD3+ anti-CD28-induced proliferation of T cells (p<0.01) and secretion of IFN gamma (P<0.001) from PBMCs of MS patients as well as of HC. Secretion of IL-4 is not affected. Our findings suggest that regulation of cholesterol metabolism not strictly related to inhibition of HMGCoA reductase can modulate activity of lymphocytes in MS. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.