Rev Neurol 2001 Nov 16;33(10):901-903
Tabernero A, Prieto JM, Sanchez
Alvarez R, Lema M, Medina JM.
Unidad de Investigacion; Hospital
Clinico Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, 37007, Espana.
INTRODUCTION.
Measurement of therapeutic efficacy
in multiple sclerosis depends on the clinical and magnetic resonance findings
on follow up. There are no biological markers. Measurement of interleukins
and other markers of inflammation has not proved useful in the follow up
of these patients. The response of astrocytes to mediators of inflammation
gives rise to modification in their capacity for intercellular communication.
OBJECTIVE.
To find whether culture of astrocytes
in serum from patients with multiple sclerosis at different clinical stages
and on different treatments gives rise to modification in intercellular
communication.
PATIENTS AND METHODS.
Astrocytes were cultured in serum
from three patients with an untreated acute clinical episode of multiple
sclerosis, and the results compared with those obtained after serum culture
when the patients had been treated with interferon for a year.
RESULTS.
In astrocyte culture using serum
from patients with an acute episode of multiple sclerosis, but not on treatment
with interferon, there was a statistically significant reduction in intercellular
communication as compared to astrocytes cultured with serum from these
same patients treated with interferon for one year (*p<?0.05; **p<?0.01).
CONCLUSION.
Measurement of the modifications
in intercellular communication on astrocyte culture may be used as a marker
for inflammatory activity in the serum of patients with multiple sclerosis,
and therefore as an index of therapeutic efficacy.