High and dysregulated secretion of epidermal growth factor from immune cells of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

We studied the secretion and regulation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) from immune cells of patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS), and the relevance of these levels to neuronal morphology and survival. Our data suggest that the immune-mediated neuronal and oligodendroglial regeneration may be defective by the increased EGF secretion from immune cells of RR-MS patients. We also suggest an increased neurotoxicity of the immune response in RR-MS via high levels of EGF secretion. This is a heretofore unreported aspect of the immune response of patients with RR-MS. Our results may support the inadequate tissue repair that has been observed in MS.