The Role of Biogenic Amines in the Regulation of Interaction between the Immune and Nervous Systems in Multiple Sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating, presumably autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Biogenic amines may participate in MS pathogenesis modulating immune cell activity and cytokine production.

METHODS: Forty-three patients with relapsing-remitting MS were examined. Serotonin (SE), norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) concentrations in sera were measured by ELISA. The functional activity of Th17 and Th1 cells was assessed by the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to produce interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) and cell proliferation upon stimulation with microbeads coated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies. To evaluate the effect of biogenic amines on Th17 and Th1 cells, PBMCs were cultured in the presence of SE and NE. Statistical analysis was performed using Prism 6 software.

RESULTS: Concentrations of SE and EPI in sera were not different between the groups. Concentrations of NE in sera from MS patients were lower than those in the healthy control group. The production of IL-17 and IFN-γ in MS patients in relapse was higher than that in patients in remission or in the control group. SE at a concentration of 10-4M suppressed IL-17 production. NE at a concentration of 10-4M suppressed both IL-17 and IFN-γ production.

CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest an anti-inflammatory role for biogenic amines in MS.