BACKGROUND: The role of T cell subpopulations and their ability to produce immunoregulatory cytokines has been extensively studied in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the exact mechanisms by which T cells and cytokines contribute to disease activity remain to be clarified. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the longitudinal relation between markers of T cell activation and differentiation and disease activity in MS patients. METHODS: During a period of 9 months, clinical disease activity was scored, monthly MRI scans were performed, and blood was taken for immune measurements in a group of 13 untreated clinically definite MS patients. RESULTS:Disease activity, as measured by the occurrence of active MRI lesions, is associated with a significant transient decrease in both T cells producing interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and T cells producing interleukin (IL)-4. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that MRI-documented disease activity is associated with a transient decrease in circulating cytokine producing T cells, possibly due to the migration of activated T cells into the CNS.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: The role of T cell subpopulations and their ability to produce immunoregulatory cytokines has been extensively studied in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the exact mechanisms by which T cells and cytokines contribute to disease activity remain to be clarified. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the longitudinal relation between markers of T cell activation and differentiation and disease activity in MSpatients. METHODS: During a period of 9 months, clinical disease activity was scored, monthly MRI scans were performed, and blood was taken for immune measurements in a group of 13 untreated clinically definite MSpatients. RESULTS: Disease activity, as measured by the occurrence of active MRI lesions, is associated with a significant transient decrease in both T cells producing interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and T cells producing interleukin (IL)-4. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that MRI-documented disease activity is associated with a transient decrease in circulating cytokine producing T cells, possibly due to the migration of activated T cells into the CNS.
Authors: Alfredo Prieto; David Díaz; Hugo Barcenilla; Carmen Castrillo; Jorge Monserrat; Antonio García Merino; Melchor Alvarez-Mon Journal: J Clin Immunol Date: 2006-05-02 Impact factor: 8.317