Effect of high-dose methylprednisolone treatment on Th17 cells in patients with multiple sclerosis in relapse.
OBJECTIVE
Growing evidences have suggested that Th17 cells are involved in the pathogenic mechanisms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Treatment with high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) has beneficial effects on functional recovery in patients with MS during relapse. The present study was designed to analyze the influences of IVMP on Th17 cells in patients with MS after a 5-day high-dose IVMP treatment.


METHODS
Th17 cell count and the production of IL-17 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were measured using flow cytometry and ELISA respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to analyze the mRNA expression of Th17 cell-related factors (IL-17, RORc and IL-23R) in PBMCs.


RESULTS
A significant reduction in IL-17 production and Th17 cells count in PBMCs was found in patients with MS after IVMP treatment. Moreover, the expression of IL-17, IL-23R and RORc mRNA decreased significantly after IVMP treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with methylprednisolone has a suppressive effect on Th17 cells and may be related to its clinical efficiency.
Liu
M
M
Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
Hu
X
X
Wang
Y
Y
Peng
F
F
Yang
Y
Y
Chen
X
X
Lu
Z
Z
Zheng
X
X
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; C515500:IL23R protein, human; D015851:Interleukin-7; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; C539900:RORC protein, human; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D008775:Methylprednisolone