Changes in the activation level of NF-kappa B in lymphocytes of MS patients during glucocorticoid pulse therapy

• Published in: Journal of the neurological sciences Vol. 264; no. 1; pp. 145 - 150
• Main Authors: Eggert, Martin, Goertsches, Robert, Seeck, Ulrike, Dilk, Silvia, Neeck, Gunther, Zettl, Uwe K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier B.V 15.01.2008; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - analysis; Biomarkers - blood; Blood lymphocytes; DNA-Binding Proteins - drug effects; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Down-Regulation - drug effects; Down-Regulation - genetics; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Glucocorticoid pulse therapy; Glucocorticoids - administration & dosage; Humans; Immunomodulators; Immunosuppressive Agents - administration & dosage; Inflammation - genetics; Inflammation - immunology; Inflammation - physiopathology; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Lymphocytes - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - blood; Multiple Sclerosis - drug therapy; Multiple Sclerosis - genetics; Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis; Neurology; NF-kappa B - drug effects; NF-kappa B - metabolism; NF-κB; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Transcription Factor RelA - drug effects; Transcription Factor RelA - metabolism; Transcriptional Activation - drug effects; Transcriptional Activation - immunology; Treatment Outcome; NF-κB; Multiple sclerosis; Blood lymphocytes; Glucocorticoid pulse therapy; Human; Nervous system diseases; Treatment; Central nervous system disease; B-Lymphocyte; Glucocorticoid; Inflammatory disease
• ISSN: 0022-510X; 1878-5883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2007.08.026

Abstract Nuclear factor-κB activity was analyzed in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients during the course of a methylprednisolone pulse therapy. Molecular effects were evaluated using lymphocytes derived from 20 MS patients before and after therapy and 24 healthy individuals. All patients responded to treatment clinically. The mean level of DNA-binding p65 in MS was proportionate to that of healthy controls, but was significantly decreased directly after therapy whereas the level of DNA-binding p50 was significantly elevated prior to therapy and remained unchanged. In summary, pulse therapy resulted in a decreased level of activated p65 NF-κB subunits leading to decreased levels of transcriptionally active pro-inflammatory NF-κB.