Corticosteroids induce expression of transforming-growth-factor-beta1 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with multiple sclerosis.

The mechanisms by which corticosteroids act in the treatment of an acute relapse in multiple sclerosis (MS) are not completely known. We investigated the mRNA and protein expression of transforming-growth-factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1), a cytokine with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive potentials, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and serum of 10 patients with an acute relapse of MS before, during and after the treatment with 500 mg prednisolone daily over 5 days. The expression of TGFbeta1-mRNA increased at day 3-5 and declined at day 8-10. Serum levels of TGFbeta1 demonstrated a comparable course. The present data suggest that corticosteroids induce the expression of TGFbeta1 in vivo. This is might be an other mechanism by which corticosteroids mediate immunosuppression.