ISSN:
1573-2592
Keywords:
Cyclophosphamide
;
immunoglobulin
;
immune suppression
;
immune regulation
;
multiple sclerosis
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Spontaneous immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion by cells from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (in the progressive phase) treated with monthly pulse doses of cyclophosphamide (CY) (1000–1600 mg/M2) was measured using the protein A plaque assay, to evaluate the effect of CY treatment on B-cell function. Surprisingly, an increase, rather than a decrease, in Ig-secreting cells was seen following CY treatment. CY-treated MS patients averaged 1380±535 spontaneous total (IgM+G+A) Ig plaque-forming cells (PFC) per 1×106 peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC), measured at 15–22 days after monthly CY administration, while healthy adults had 280±47 Ig PFC/106 MNC, and MS patients not treated with CY had 300±43 Ig PFC/106 MNC. The observed increase was due to an increase in IgG and IgA PFC. PFC levels remained elevated for 4 weeks following CY treatment, decreasing to control levels by 7–8 weeks post-CY. A small increase in serum IgG level was noted after 〉12 months of pulse CY therapy; no increase was seen in CSF IgG levels. A preferential decrease in the number of CD4+ T cells was also seen in the CY-treated MS patients. We propose that the observed increase in the number of spontaneous Ig PFC was due to the CY-induced disruption of the CD4+ T cell-mediated control ofin vivo activated B cells.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00916004
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