title: Myelin-basic protein-reactive specific CD4+ and CD8+ NK lymphocytes induce morphological changes in neuronal cell bodies and myelin sheaths: implications for multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease characterized by loss of myelin. However, data indicate that autoimmune cells could directly impair neuronal cell bodies and myelin sheath is lacking. The aim of the present study was to determine morphological evidence of the direct impairment of neurons by autoreactive lymphocytes and to further identify the subtypes of these lymphocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lymphocytes activated by myelin basic protein (MBP) 83-99 and neurons of human brain were co-cultured for 24 h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Observations through scanning electron microscope showed that MBP-specific lymphocytes (CD4+, CD8+ cells, and NK cells) aggregated in the vicinity of the neuronal cell bodies and the myelin sheaths and attacked them directly, resulting in the degeneration of both neurons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our studies provide morphological evidences of the direct impairment of neuronal cell bodies and myelin sheaths by MBP-specific lymphocytes. Our studies also suggest that MBP-specific CD4+, CD8+, and NK cells might be involved in this process. These processes may play a role in the direct impairment of neurons and myelin sheaths in early stages of MS and provide evidences for the application of immunosuppressant therapy of MS.
authors: Department of Stomatology, Tangdu Hospital, Xi'an, China.
authors: Quan-yu
authors: QY
authors: Zhang
authors: Jing-hui
authors: JH
authors: Huang
authors: Hong-zeng
authors: HZ
authors: Li
authors: Hai-tao
authors: HT
authors: Guo
authors: Yan-qing
authors: YQ
authors: Zhong
authors: Yue-min
authors: YM
authors: Wang
authors: Jian-ming
authors: JM
authors: Pei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C104448:myelin basic protein 83-99