Immunomodulatory properties of increased levels of liver X receptor β in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from multiple sclerosis patients

Liver X receptors (LXRα and LXRβ) are nuclear transcription factors that inhibit transcription of genes of inflammation while inducing HMGCoA reductase. In this paper we demonstrate increased mRNA levels of LXRβ in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from multiple sclerosis patients with respect to other neurological patients and healthy controls (HC) (p < 0.01). Agonist-induced activation of LXRs partially counteracts the anti-CD3+ anti-CD28-induced proliferation of T cells (p < 0.01) and secretion of IFNγ (p < 0.001) from PBMCs of MS patients as well as of HC. Secretion of IL-4 is not affected. Our findings suggest that regulation of cholesterol metabolism not strictly related to inhibition of HMGCoA reductase can modulate activity of lymphocytes in MS.