Cytotoxic T lymphocytes in autoimmune and degenerative CNS diseases.
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) with a CD8(+) phenotype have the potential to recognize and attack major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-expressing brain cells. Most brain cells, including neurons, can be stimulated to present peptides to CD8(+) CTLs by MHC class I molecules, and are susceptible to CTL-mediated cytotoxicity in culture. In disease-affected brain parenchyma, CD8(+) CTLs outnumber other T-cell subtypes. They show clonal expansion in several inflammatory and degenerative CNS diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), virus-induced inflammatory brain diseases and paraneoplastic neurological disorders. In MS, damage of axons is closely linked to the CD8(+) CTLs, and protection against CTL-mediated damage should be considered as a new therapeutic approach in MS and other neuroinflammatory diseases.
Neumann
Harald
H
Neuroimmunology Unit, European Neuroscience Institute Göttingen, Waldweg 33, 37073 Göttingen, Germany. hneuman1@gwdg.de
Medana
Isabelle M
IM
Bauer
Jan
J
Lassmann
Hans
H
D017209:Apoptosis; D020274:Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic