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Peripheral blood leukocyte NO production in MS patients with a benign vs progressive course

From the Department of Neurology (Drs. Ramsaransing, Teelken, and De Keyser), Academisch Ziekenhuis Groningen, the Netherlands; and the Laboratory of Perinatal Biochemistry (Dr. Arutjunyan), D.O. Ott Research Institute, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Jacques De Keyser, Department of Neurology, Academisch Ziekenhuis Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands; e-mail: j.h.a.de.keyser{at}neuro.azg.nl

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) may play a role in tissue destruction and axonal degeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: To investigate NO production by peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) in patients with a benign and progressive course of MS.

Methods: PBL were isolated from 25 patients with a benign course of MS (BMS), 33 with secondary progressive MS (SPMS), 21 with primary progressive MS (PPMS), and 29 healthy individuals. Leukocyte supernatants were assayed for nitrite concentration, which is an index of NO generation, using the Griess reaction. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-12 were measured using ELISA.

Results: Compared to healthy controls, nitrite concentrations were higher in patients with BMS (p < 0.001), SPMS (p < 0.001), and PPMS (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences among the three clinical subgroups of MS. There was a correlation between nitrite concentrations and serum levels of IL-12 (p = 0.04), but not of TNF.

Conclusion: Increased NO production by PBL in patients with MS is independent of the disease course.

Received August 4, 2003. Accepted in final form September 24, 2003.

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