title: Active MRI lesion appearance in MS patients is preceded by fluctuations in circulating T-helper 1 and 2 cells.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunobiology, CLB and Laboratory of Experimental and Clinical Immunology of the University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.killestein@azvu.nl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Killestein
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rep
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barkhof
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Adèr
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: van Lier
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Polman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002452:Cell Count; D018450:Disease Progression; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D008775:Methylprednisolone