OBJECTIVE Chemokines are involved in the migration of inflammatory cells to the central nervous system in multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of our study was to estimate the concentrations of CCL5, CXCL10 and CXCL11 in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients during both relapse and stable disease, and to compare the results with those of controls. We also decided to evaluate the effect of methylprednisolone (MP) therapy on CCL5, CXCL10 and CXCL11 serum concentrations in MS patients with relapse. METHODS The study groups consisted of 17 RRMS patients during relapse, 30 RRMS patients in remission and 25 patients with tension headache with no symptoms of inflammatory disease as controls. In the group of relapsing MS patients, blood samples were obtained before steroid therapy and after a 5-day treatment with MP at a dose of 1 g i.v. once daily. Chemokine levels were measured by ELISA. RESULTS CXCL10 levels were significantly higher in the CSF of MS patients both during relapse (mean ± SD, 298.2 ± 143.8 pg/ml) and stable disease (323.7 ± 183 pg/ml) in comparison with the control group (152.4 ± 97.7 pg/ml; p < 0.001). CSF levels of CCL5 were significantly higher in relapsing MS patients (8.74 ± 6.18 pg/ml) in comparison with stable MS patients (4.4 ± 3.9 pg/ml, p = 0.005). CXCL11 levels of MS patients did not significantly differ from control values. There was no effect of MP therapy on serum levels of CCL5, CXCL10 and CXCL11. CONCLUSIONS These observations suggest involvement of CXCL10 and CCL5 but not CXCL11 in the pathogenesis of MS. CCL5 may induce the recruitment of inflammatory cells in acute-stage MS.