Immunoregulatory T cells in multiple sclerosis and the effect of interferon beta and glatiramer acetate treatment on T cell subpopulations.
BACKGROUND
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease characterized by demyelination and chronic inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS). Many of the immune cells including T and B cells seem to be involved in disease pathogenesis by inducing or controlling the immune responses in the nervous system of MS patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the differences in subpopulations of T cells between MS patients and healthy controls and the effects of interferon beta (INF-beta) and glatiramer acetate (GA) treatment on T cell subpopulations.


METHODS
We have investigated the frequency of subpopulations of T cells using flow cytometry in 84 relapsing-remitting MS patients; forty-five patients started treatment with INF-beta and eighteen patients with GA, twenty-one patients were not treated. We collected blood samples at the beginning and after 6 and 12 months.


RESULTS
We observed a significant decrease in CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells (p=0.03) and a significant increase in T helper cells (p=0.002) and central memory T cells (p=0.03) in MS patients compared to healthy controls. After INF-beta therapy, we demonstrated a significant increase in naive T cells (p=0.008), a decline in central memory T cells (p=0.01). After GA therapy, we observed a significant increase in naive T cells (p=0.04), a decrease in central memory T cells (p=0.03) and an increase in T-suppressor cells (p=0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, we demonstrated the imbalance of T-cell subpopulations in MS patients and the potential benefit of DMD (disease modifying drugs) treatment on its restoration.
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Brno, Jihlavska 20, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic. petrapraksova@seznam.cz
Petra
P
Praksova
Pavel
P
Stourac
Josef
J
Bednarik
Eva
E
Vlckova
Zuzana
Z
Mikulkova
Jaroslav
J
Michalek
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010455:Peptides; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D016899:Interferon-beta