Differential effects of anti-CD20 therapy on CD4 and CD8 T cells and implication of CD20-expressing CD8 T cells in MS disease activity.

A small proportion of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients develop new disease activity soon after starting anti-CD20 therapy. This activity does not recur with further dosing, possibly reflecting deeper depletion of CD20-expressing cells with repeat infusions. We assessed cellular immune profiles and their association with transient disease activity following anti-CD20 initiation as a window into relapsing disease biology.

Stabilization of leukocytes from cerebrospinal fluid for central immunophenotypic evaluation in multicenter clinical trials.

Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) represents a valuable window into the pathogenesis of neuroinflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). However, analysis of the cellular fraction of CSF is often neglected because CSF cells die rapidly ex vivo. Immunophenotyping of CSF cells in multicenter clinical trials requires sample preservation and shipping to a centralized lab.

Cellular and humoral immune responses following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis on anti-CD20 therapy.

SARS-CoV-2 messenger RNA vaccination in healthy individuals generates immune protection against COVID-19. However, little is known about SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine-induced responses in immunosuppressed patients. We investigated induction of antigen-specific antibody, B cell and T cell responses longitudinally in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) on anti-CD20 antibody monotherapy (n = 20) compared with healthy controls (n = 10) after BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 mRNA vaccination.

Pro-inflammatory adiponectin in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis.

Background: Being obese is associated with both increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) and greater MS disease activity.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate levels and potential pathophysiologic contribution of serum adipose-hormones (adipokines) in pediatric-onset MS.

Methods: Following a Luminex adipokine screen, adiponectin (APN) and its isoforms were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 169 children with incident acquired demyelinating syndromes (ADS), prospectively ascertained as having either MS or other forms of inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) demyelination.

Abnormal effector and regulatory T cell subsets in paediatric-onset multiple sclerosis.

Elucidation of distinct T-cell subsets involved in multiple sclerosis immune-pathophysiology continues to be of considerable interest since an ultimate goal is to more selectively target the aberrant immune response operating in individual patients. While abnormalities of both effector (Teff) and regulatory (Treg) T cells have been reported in patients with multiple sclerosis, prior studies have mostly assessed average abnormalities in either limb of the immune response, rather than both at the same time, which limits the ability to evaluate the balance between effectors and regulators operating in the same patient. Assessing both phenotypic and functional responses of Teffs and Tregs has also proven important.

A complex role of herpes viruses in the disease process of multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system (CNS). Neither the antigenic target(s) nor the cell population(s) responsible for CNS tissue destruction in MS have been fully defined. The objective of this study was to simultaneously determine the antigen (Ag)-specificity and phenotype of un-manipulated intrathecal CD4+ and CD8+ T cells of patients with relapsing-remitting and progressive MS compared to subjects with other inflammatory neurological diseases.

Comprehensive immunophenotyping of cerebrospinal fluid cells in patients with neuroimmunological diseases.

We performed unbiased, comprehensive immunophenotyping of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood leukocytes in 221 subjects referred for the diagnostic work-up of neuroimmunological disorders to obtain insight about disease-specific phenotypes of intrathecal immune responses. Quantification of 14 different immune cell subsets, coupled with the assessment of their activation status, revealed physiological differences between intrathecal and systemic immunity, irrespective of final diagnosis. Our data are consistent with a model where the CNS shapes intrathecal immune responses to provide effective protection against persistent viral infections, especially by memory T cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and CD56(bright) NK cells.

The role of the neuropeptide somatostatin on methamphetamine and glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in the striatum of mice.

A large body of evidence shows that methamphetamine (METH) causes sustained damage to the brain in animal models and human METH users. In chronic users there are indications of cognitive and motor deficits. Striatal neuropeptides are in a position to modulate the neurochemical effects of METH and consequently striatal neural damage.

Role of neurokinin-1 and dopamine receptors on the striatal methamphetamine-induced proliferation of new cells in mice.

A neurotoxic dose of methamphetamine (METH) induces the loss of some striatal neurons. Interestingly, the METH-induced apoptosis in the striatum is immediately followed by the generation of new cells (cytogenesis). In the present study, we investigated the role of the neurokinin-1, dopamine D1 and D2 receptors on the METH-induced cytogenesis.