Melanoma Cell Adhesion Molecule Expressing Helper T Cells in CNS Inflammatory Demyelinating Diseases.

Background And Objective: To elucidate the relationship between melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM)-expressing lymphocytes and pathogenesis of CNS inflammatory demyelinating diseases (IDDs).

Methods: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) (n = 72) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD, n = 29) were included. We analyzed the frequency and absolute numbers of MCAM lymphocytes (memory helper T [mTh] cells, naive helper T cells, CD8 T cells, and B cells) in the peripheral blood (PB) and the CSF of patients with MS and NMOSD, treated with/without disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) or steroids, using flow cytometry.