Concomitant Expression of IL-6 and TGF-β Cytokines and their Receptors in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: The Effects of INFβ Drugs

Concomitant signals from IL-6 and TGF-β have a central role in the Th17 cells development and differentiation, and these cells are the main promoters of demyelinating inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS) resulting in multiple sclerosis (MS).

To evaluate the simultaneous IL-6 and TGF-β gene and their receptor protein expression in patients with Relapsing-Remitting (RR)-MS.

IL-6 and TGF-β mRNA and their receptor expression on the surface of CD4+T cells were evaluated using real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and flow cytometry, respectively.

The IL-6 mRNA expression in patients with RRMS was significantly higher than in the controls (p= 0.019). When patients who did not receive any other treatment were compared with the controls, the significant difference was substantial (p=0.006). The TGF-β mRNA expression in patients was lower than in the controls (p = 0.03). However, in patients receiving IFNβ, it increased compared with the other patients (p= 0.036). There was no difference in cytokine receptor expression between patients and the control group.

Our data conclude an increase and decrease in mRNA expression levels of IL-6 and TGF-β in patients with RRMS, respectively. Moreover, there were no significant differences in receptor expression of either cytokines. Based on our data the balance of TGF and IL-6 appears to have a positive impact on the disease control.