Chris Sullivan can you provide the link to....

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this research page that you posted at MS4?

ß endorphin concentrations in PBMC of patients with different clinical phen=

otypes of multiple sclerosis

M Gironi1, R Furlan1, M Rovaris1, G Comi1, M Filippi1, A E Panerai2 and P S=

acerdote2

1 Department of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy

2 Department of Pharmacology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

Correspondence to:

Dr M Gironi, San Raffaele, DIMER, Via Olgettina 48, 20132, Milan, Italy;

mgironi@...

ABSTRACT

The possible link between the opioid peptide ß endorphin and the heterogene=

ity of the clinical course of multiple sclerosis (MS) was investigated. Peri=

pheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) concentrations of ß endorphin were mea=

sured in 50 patients in different phases of MS. Thirty nine patients also un=

derwent post-contrast magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. Among MS form=

s, the highest ß endorphin concentrations were found in PBMC from patients w=

ith relapsing remitting MS and the lowest in patients with the progressive f=

orms. Average ß endorphin concentrations were lower, although not significan=

tly, in patients with than in those without magnetic resonance imaging enhan=

ced lesions. These data suggest that ß endorphin may have a role in the down=

regulation of the inflammatory process.