- Email: [email protected]
Decreased beta endorphin levels in peripheral blood cells of multiple sclerosis patients
184
DECREASED BETA ENDORPHIN LEVELS IN PER[PHEl~AL BLOOD CELLS OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIEHTS D.Caputo*, P.Ferrante*, M.Saresel~a*, F.Guerini**, P.Saeerclote***. A.E.Panerai***, C.L.Cazzulio*. *Don Gnocchi Multiple Sclerosis Ctr, **Inst. Med. Microbiology, ***Dept of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Milan, Italy. It i)~already known that immunopoptides play a role in the modulation of the immune :~y,tem. Among them Beta-Endorphin (BE) has been observed in stimulated and in fresh resting peripheral lymphocytes; moreover in a previous study we have observed that the BE levels are higher in the cells from healthy ind;.viduals under 30 years of age than in older subjects. Because in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) abnormalities ef the immune functions are observed and they seem to be important in the L~athogenesisof the disease we have studied the BE levels in 46 ,~..~Spatients with different age and in 51 age matched healthy controls. Among the MS cases 1S were under 30 years, while 25 were 30 or more years old. BE was measured in resting and stimulmcg peripheral blood lymphocytes by radioimmunoassay with specific antibodies, obtained in o~r laboratory, against bovine serum albumine coniugates of human BE. No differences have been observed, in respect ~o the BE levels, between the groups of young MS patients and healthy controls. On the contrary a statistically significant decrease of BE has been observed in MS cases with more than 30 years of age in comparison with the age matched healthy controls (P
THE INCIDENCE AND SPECLI~CITY OF ALLERGIES IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS Shalla H. Kahn, M.D., Robert L. Kllobler. M.D.) Ph.D., Stephen J. McGeady, M.D. and Fred D. Lublin, M.D. Jeffereson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA, USA Prior studies have suggested a seasonal variation in the fre~iuency of exacerbations in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), and infections have been suspected as a cause. We reviewed 552 consecutive hospital admissions for the treatment of acute exacerbations from 1994-1989, and found thre.~ monthly peaks, in March, July and October. Statistical analysis, to reduce the potential selection bias of increased patient accrual over time, however, failed to reveal a significant seasonal variation. The possibility that allergic responses contributed to these monthly peaks was investigated by intradsrmal injection of allergen, and revealed that 81% of RRMS patients, randomly selected from the group, were skin sensitive, as compared to 33% of the general adult population. The most common allergens eliciting a skin response included dust andmolds (52% each), grass and rag~.ecd pollen (35% each), and cat and dog dander (40% and 32% respectively). Prior epidemioiogical studies have suggested that dogs and canine distemper virus are factors influencing MS. Th~ present study raises the possibility that allergic r~_~ponsesto dog dander and other common allerge:ls carried on these pets should be considered as an etiologic factor in the pathogenesis of MS. Si~ic,~some of these allergens are both seasofial and widely prevalent, the possibility that RRMS may :e0ect an allergic or post-allergic phenomenon warrants further investigation.
DECREASED BETA ENDORPHIN LEVELS IN PER[PHEl~AL BLOOD CELLS OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIEHTS D.Caputo*, P.Ferrante*, M.Saresel~a*, F.Guerini**, P.Saeerclote***. A.E.Panerai***, C.L.Cazzulio*. *Don Gnocchi Multiple Sclerosis Ctr, **Inst. Med. Microbiology, ***Dept of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Milan, Italy. It i)~already known that immunopoptides play a role in the modulation of the immune :~y,tem. Among them Beta-Endorphin (BE) has been observed in stimulated and in fresh resting peripheral lymphocytes; moreover in a previous study we have observed that the BE levels are higher in the cells from healthy ind;.viduals under 30 years of age than in older subjects. Because in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) abnormalities ef the immune functions are observed and they seem to be important in the L~athogenesisof the disease we have studied the BE levels in 46 ,~..~Spatients with different age and in 51 age matched healthy controls. Among the MS cases 1S were under 30 years, while 25 were 30 or more years old. BE was measured in resting and stimulmcg peripheral blood lymphocytes by radioimmunoassay with specific antibodies, obtained in o~r laboratory, against bovine serum albumine coniugates of human BE. No differences have been observed, in respect ~o the BE levels, between the groups of young MS patients and healthy controls. On the contrary a statistically significant decrease of BE has been observed in MS cases with more than 30 years of age in comparison with the age matched healthy controls (P
THE INCIDENCE AND SPECLI~CITY OF ALLERGIES IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS Shalla H. Kahn, M.D., Robert L. Kllobler. M.D.) Ph.D., Stephen J. McGeady, M.D. and Fred D. Lublin, M.D. Jeffereson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA, USA Prior studies have suggested a seasonal variation in the fre~iuency of exacerbations in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), and infections have been suspected as a cause. We reviewed 552 consecutive hospital admissions for the treatment of acute exacerbations from 1994-1989, and found thre.~ monthly peaks, in March, July and October. Statistical analysis, to reduce the potential selection bias of increased patient accrual over time, however, failed to reveal a significant seasonal variation. The possibility that allergic responses contributed to these monthly peaks was investigated by intradsrmal injection of allergen, and revealed that 81% of RRMS patients, randomly selected from the group, were skin sensitive, as compared to 33% of the general adult population. The most common allergens eliciting a skin response included dust andmolds (52% each), grass and rag~.ecd pollen (35% each), and cat and dog dander (40% and 32% respectively). Prior epidemioiogical studies have suggested that dogs and canine distemper virus are factors influencing MS. Th~ present study raises the possibility that allergic r~_~ponsesto dog dander and other common allerge:ls carried on these pets should be considered as an etiologic factor in the pathogenesis of MS. Si~ic,~some of these allergens are both seasofial and widely prevalent, the possibility that RRMS may :e0ect an allergic or post-allergic phenomenon warrants further investigation.