Biomaterial Database

Mitogenic response and steroid sensitivity in MS lymphocytes. 1997

T Wei, and R A Knight, and S L Lightman

Department of Clinical Neurology, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK.

OBJECTIVE We investigated mitogenic response and steroid sensitivity in multiple sclerosis (MS) lymphocytes to establish if MS lymphocytes were less steroid responsive. METHODS We compared mitogenic response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and inhibition by dexamethasone (DEX) in circulating lymphocytes from both MS patients and healthy subjects. RESULTS We found a range of responses in each group but no significant differences between the two groups, nor in patients with and without enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging. The mid-inhibitory concentration of DEX in response to 1 microg/ml PHA was significantly lower than that for 2.5 microg/ml PHA in the patients. The mid-inhibitory concentrations of DEX in response to 2.5 microg/ml PHA negatively correlated with endogenous serum cortisol concentrations. CONCLUSIONS These data imply a spectrum of glucocorticoid response that is similar in normal and MS lymphocytes and can partly explain why response to steroid therapy is variable.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008214	Lymphocytes	White blood cells formed in the body's lymphoid tissue. The nucleus is round or ovoid with coarse, irregularly clumped chromatin while the cytoplasm is typically pale blue with azurophilic (if any) granules. Most lymphocytes can be classified as either T or B (with subpopulations of each), or NATURAL KILLER CELLS.	Lymphoid Cells,Cell, Lymphoid,Cells, Lymphoid,Lymphocyte,Lymphoid Cell
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D008934	Mitogens	Substances that stimulate mitosis and lymphocyte transformation. They include not only substances associated with LECTINS, but also substances from streptococci (associated with streptolysin S) and from strains of alpha-toxin-producing staphylococci. (Stedman, 25th ed)	Mitogen,Phytomitogen,Phytomitogens
D009103	Multiple Sclerosis	An autoimmune disorder mainly affecting young adults and characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. Pathologic findings include multiple sharply demarcated areas of demyelination throughout the white matter of the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction. The usual pattern is one of recurrent attacks followed by partial recovery (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, RELAPSING-REMITTING), but acute fulminating and chronic progressive forms (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE) also occur. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p903)	MS (Multiple Sclerosis),Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating,Sclerosis, Disseminated,Disseminated Sclerosis,Sclerosis, Multiple
D010835	Phytohemagglutinins	Mucoproteins isolated from the kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris); some of them are mitogenic to lymphocytes, others agglutinate all or certain types of erythrocytes or lymphocytes. They are used mainly in the study of immune mechanisms and in cell culture.	Kidney Bean Lectin,Kidney Bean Lectins,Lectins, Kidney Bean,Phaseolus vulgaris Lectin,Phaseolus vulgaris Lectins,Phytohemagglutinin,Hemagglutinins, Plant,Lectin, Kidney Bean,Lectin, Phaseolus vulgaris,Lectins, Phaseolus vulgaris,Plant Hemagglutinins
D003907	Dexamethasone	An anti-inflammatory 9-fluoro-glucocorticoid.	Hexadecadrol,Decaject,Decaject-L.A.,Decameth,Decaspray,Dexasone,Dexpak,Hexadrol,Maxidex,Methylfluorprednisolone,Millicorten,Oradexon,Decaject L.A.
D005260	Female		Females
D005938	Glucocorticoids	A group of CORTICOSTEROIDS that affect carbohydrate metabolism (GLUCONEOGENESIS, liver glycogen deposition, elevation of BLOOD SUGAR), inhibit ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE secretion, and possess pronounced anti-inflammatory activity. They also play a role in fat and protein metabolism, maintenance of arterial blood pressure, alteration of the connective tissue response to injury, reduction in the number of circulating lymphocytes, and functioning of the central nervous system.	Glucocorticoid,Glucocorticoid Effect,Glucorticoid Effects,Effect, Glucocorticoid,Effects, Glucorticoid
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man