Plasmacytoid dendritic cells are increased in cerebrospinal fluid of untreated patients during multiple sclerosis relapse

Abstract

The plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) express a high level of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9), which recognizes viral DNA. Activated via TLR-9, pDCs also secrete large amounts of type I interferon which are involved either in stimulation or down regulation of immune response in multiple sclerosis (MS). In the present study, we determinate pDCs levels by flow cytometry in Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) and Peripheral Blood from MS patients in relapsing and in remitting phases of the disease, comparing with other non-inflammatory diseases (OND). We provide evidence that MS patients in relapse without any treatment have a significantly (p < 0.01) higher percentage of pDCs in CSF than do patients in remission or those with OND. No change in the percentage of pDCs was observed in the peripheral blood of any of these patients. The increase of pDCs in central nervous system during relapse may be explained either by a virus infection or a down regulatory process.

Figure 1

Concentration of pDCs in relation to other mononuclear cells in CSF and peripheral blood. (A) BDCA2 positive gated CSF cells, dot plot representative of MS patients in relapse and in remission. (B) Percentage of pDCs in CSF, with data points representing individuals of MS patients in relapse (6) and in remission (11) and in other neurological diseases (8). (C) Concentration of pDCs in peripheral blood, with data points representing individuals. Data are shown as median and the statistically significant differences are indicated by *(p < 0.01).