A new approach for evaluating antigen-specific T cell responses to myelin antigens during the course of multiple sclerosis.
We used a flow cytometry assay to measure proliferation and cytokine production of self-antigen-specific T cells in individual patients during the clinical course of multiple sclerosis (MS). Myelin-associated oligodendrocytic basic protein (MOBP) was selected for proof of principles in the assay, along with myelin basic protein (MBP) to assess specific activated T cells in 10 MS patients over an 18-month period, in parallel with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and clinical rating scale. A positive correlation occurred between antigen-specific T cell proliferation and interferon-gamma production with clinical relapses and MRI lesion activity that was absent when the same patients were in remission.
Arbour
Nathalie
N
Division of Virology, Department of Neuropharmacology, The Scripps Research Institute (IMM-6), 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. nathaliearbour@hotmail.com
Holz
Andreas
A
Sipe
Jack C
JC
Naniche
Denise
D
Romine
John S
JS
Zyroff
Jack
J
Oldstone
Michael B A
MB
D000328:Adult; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D001324:Autoantigens; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; C560487:MOBP protein, human; C571326:MOG protein, human; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein