Brain 2001 Aug;124(Pt 8):1544-54
Schrijver IA, van Meurs M, Melief
MJ, Wim Ang C, Buljevac D, Ravid R, Hazenberg MP, Laman JD.
Departments of Immunology and Neurology,
Erasmus University and University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, Rotterdam
and Netherlands Brain Bank, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Multiple sclerosis is believed to
result from a CD4+ T-cell response against myelin antigens.
Peptidoglycan, a major component
of the Gram-positive bacterial cell wall, is a functional lipopolysaccharide
analogue with potent proinflammatory properties and is conceivably a mediator
of sterile inflammation.
Here we demonstrate that peptidoglycan
is present within antigen-presenting cells in the brain of multiple sclerosis
patients.
These cells have macrophage and dendritic
cell characteristics, and are immunocompetent as evidenced by co-expression
of inflammatory cytokines and co-stimulatory molecules.
In addition, intrathecal plasma cells
specific for peptidoglycan are present in multiple sclerosis brain tissue,
and antibodies binding peptidoglycan are present in CSF during active disease.
Peptidoglycan may thus contribute
to T- and B-cell activity during brain inflammation without a requirement
for local bacterial replication.
PMID: 11459746 [PubMed - in process]