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Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis with Methylprednisolone and Mitoxantrone Modulates the Expression of CXC Chemokine Receptors in PBMC

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Abstract

Chemokines and their receptors are involved in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). Methylprednisolone (MP) and mitoxantrone (MTX) are commonly used in the treatment of MS. In this study, we analyzed the expression of chemokine receptors CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCR3, CXCR4, and CXCR5 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from MS patients before and after treatment with MP or MTX. We observed a significant upregulation of expression of CXCR1 and CXCR2 in untreated MS patients. Treatment of MS with MP stimulated further increase of expression of both receptors. Therapy for MS with MTX resulted in decrease of CXCR2 expression. There was a negative correlation between the expression of CXCR1 and CXCR2 and the cumulative dose of MTX received by patients. These results suggest that CXCR1 and CXCR2 may be involved in MS pathogenesis and that treatment of this disease with MP and MTX may influence expression of those receptors.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the following research grants: 15/IV/2005 from the Foundation for Development of Polish Pharmacy and Medicine of POLPHARMA SA and 2P05B 16029 from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental and Clinical Neurology, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka Str. 6/8 92-215, Lodz, Poland

    Bartosz Bielecki, Andzelika Mazurek, Paweł Wolinski & Andrzej Glabinski

  2. Department of Neurology, Medical University of Lodz, Kopcinskiego Str. 22 90-153, Lodz, Poland

    Bartosz Bielecki & Andrzej Glabinski

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  1. Bartosz Bielecki
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  2. Andzelika Mazurek
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Correspondence to Andrzej Glabinski.

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Bielecki, B., Mazurek, A., Wolinski, P. et al. Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis with Methylprednisolone and Mitoxantrone Modulates the Expression of CXC Chemokine Receptors in PBMC. J Clin Immunol 28, 122–130 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-007-9142-7

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