Cytokine producing CD8+ T cells are correlated to MRI features of tissue destruction in MS.
Specific T-cell subsets and their ability to produce cytokines have been involved in concepts of multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. Evidence to link cytokine producing T-cell subsets to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of tissue destruction, however, is limited. Cytokine flow cytometry was performed in 124 patients with different subtypes of MS. In a subgroup of 69 patients, from whom longitudinal MRI was available, the ability of circulating types 1 and 2 helper T cells to produce cytokines was correlated to changes in T1 hypointense and T2 hyperintense lesion load (LL) on brain MRI during 3 years of follow-up. Significant negative correlations were found between baseline CD8(+) T-cell subsets producing IL-2, IL-4 or IL-13 and the change in T1 LL. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that in RRMS, CD8(+) T cells producing IL-2, IL-4 or IL-13, and in PPMS, CD8(+) IL-10(+) T cells correlated negatively with T1 LL. To our knowledge, this study provides the first direct immunophenotypic evidence of cytokine producing CD8(+) T cells being directly related to long-term development of MRI features of demyelination and axonal loss.
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma