Multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis:: CCR5 and CXCR3 expressing T cells are augmented in blood and cerebrospinal fluid

A role for chemokines as mediators of Th1 cell recruitment to the central nervous system (CNS) is probable in MS. Therefore we studied expression of Th1-related CCR5 and CXCR3 chemokine receptors in patients with MS and controls. Patients with untreated MS had elevated percentages of CCR5 and CXCR3 expressing T cells vs. healthy controls (HC) in blood, and vs. other non-inflammatory neurological diseases (OND) patients in CSF. Such elevation was not found in MS patients examined during ongoing treatment with IFN-beta. Patients with optic neuritis (ON), a common first manifestation of MS, had elevated percentages of CXCR3 expressing T cells in blood compared with HC, and of CCR5 expressing T cells in CSF compared with OND patients. High chemokine receptor expression may be one prerequisite for Th1 cells to migrate to the CNS. Inhibition of chemokine receptor expression may constitute a potentially important therapeutic effect of IFN-beta.