Lymphocyte calcium influx kinetics in multiple sclerosis treated without or with interferon β.

Kv1.3 and IKCa1 potassium channels play an important role in the maintenance of calcium-influx during lymphocyte activation and present a possible target for selective immunomodulation. We investigated the calcium-influx characteristics of Th1, Th2, CD4, CD8 T-lymphocytes isolated from multiple sclerosis patients without or with interferon-beta therapy, and its modulation by Kv1.3 and IKCa1 channel inhibitors using flow cytometry. Specific immunomodulation of the CD8 subset can be reached through inhibition of Kv1.3 channels in multiple sclerosis patients without interferon-beta. However, this effect is not specific enough concerning all lymphocyte subsets influencing the autoimmune response, since it also affects anti-inflammatory Th2 cells.