Objectives: We studied the in vitro production of variably MS-related cytokines from Sardinian MS and healthy donors bearing the two "Sardinian" MS-associated HLA-DR alleles: DR3 and DR4, with the purpose to evidentiate possible differences in their immune response.
Materials and methods: ELISA were used for detection of cellular products by mitogen-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
Results: PHA-activated HLA-DR4+/DR3- mononuclear cells produce significantly higher amounts of TNF-alpha compared with the DR3+/DR4-. In addition, homozygous HLA-DR3+ mononuclear cells from MS patients produce significantly lower amounts of IL-10 than those from homozygous HLA-DR3+ healthy donors.
Conclusion: The abnormal production of detrimental or regulatory cytokines may account for the genetic susceptibility to MS in different HLA-subgroups of Sardinian MS patients.