Microarray analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from multiple sclerosis patients

Microarray analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 12 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and 15 healthy controls.

Twelve female patients participated in this study after confirmed fulfillment of Poser's criteria for clinically definite MS (mean age: 54.2). Their blood samples were compared to samples from fifteen healthy unrelated female controls (mean age=71.6).  One patient was receiving cortisone treatment, 2 patients received β-interferon, and 1 patient was being treated with both β-interferon and cortisone at the time of sample collection.

PBMCs were isolated from whole blood using BD Vacutainer CPT Cell Preparation Tubes. RNA extraction was performed with TRIzol Reagent.