Optic neuritis and cytokines: no relation to MRI abnormalities and oligoclonal bands

Relation of intrathecal oligoclonal band production to inflammatory mediator and immunotherapy response in 208 children with OMS

In 208 children with opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS), CSF IgG oligoclonal bands (OCB) and 22 immunomarkers in CSF and 21 in serum/blood were measured. In 36 untreated OMS, 58% were OCB(+), whereas 55% of treated OMS were OCB(-). OCB positivity or negativity did not alter concentrations or frequencies of immunomarkers. The phenotypes of OCB(+) and OCB(-) patients were not distinctive. CSF B cells were expanded in untreated OMS regardless of OCB positivity. These data reveal a much higher frequency of OCB positivity in untreated OMS than previously realized and a disconnect between intrathecal OCB and inflammatory mediator production.

Costimulatory molecules B7-1 and B7-2 on CSF cells in multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis

The aberrant expression of B7 costimulatory molecules is involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and overexpression of B7-1 was found in inflammatory multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions. We here report that costimulatory molecules B7-1 and B7-2 are expressed on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) monocytes and B-lymphocytes from patients with MS, optic neuritis (ON) and other inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) diseases. In patients with ON but not MS, increased expression of B7-2 was detected as compared to non-inflammatory controls. The expression of B7-1 in MS and ON patients correlates with disease duration but not with relapses in patients with MS indicating a role in early disease but not as a reliable marker of disease activity at later stages of MS.