Increased CD8+ central memory T cells in patients with multiple sclerosis.
A T-cell-mediated autoimmune process against central nervous system myelin is believed to underlie the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Formation of immunological memory is based on the differentiation of naïve T cells to memory T cells after exposure to antigens and specific cytokines. The aim of this study was to analyse peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with MS for different T-cell subsets including naïve and memory T cells. Flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to analyse memory T-cell subsets and plasma concentration of interleukin-15 (IL-15) in peripheral blood of MS patients, patients with other neurological disorders and healthy controls. MS patients had a skewed distribution of T cells with an increased level of CD8+/CCR7+/CD45RA - central memory T cells (TCM) compared to healthy controls. In addition, MS patients showed significantly higher levels of plasma IL-15 than healthy controls did. Upregulated CD8+ TCM in MS patients may reflect a persistent chronic inflammatory response that may have been induced during early stages of the disease. This derangement may be important for maintaining chronic inflammation in MS.
Liu
Guang-Zhi
GZ
Department of Neurology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, PR China. guangzhi@public.bta.net.cn
Fang
Li-Bo
LB
Hjelmström
Peter
P
Gao
Xu-Guang
XG
D000328:Adult; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000097:blood; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000276:immunology*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000276:immunology*; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
C515370:CCR7 protein, human; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D019409:Interleukin-15; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens