Peer support impact on therapeutic adherence in patients with multiple sclerosis: a mixed-methods pilot trial protocol.

Introduction: Patient partnership is a key component of patient-centred care. One form of partnership is individual peer support, which can improve patients' quality of life and adherence to treatment. Patient with multiple sclerosis could benefit from this type of support, but such an intervention has not been explored in the literature.

An intermediate level of CD161 expression defines a novel activated, inflammatory, and pathogenic subset of CD8 T cells involved in multiple sclerosis.

Several lines of evidence support a key role for CD8 T cells in central nervous system tissue damage of patients with multiple sclerosis. However, the precise phenotype of the circulating CD8 T cells that may be recruited from the peripheral blood to invade the CNS remains largely undefined to date. It has been suggested that IL-17 secreting CD8 (Tc17) T cells may be involved, and in humans these cells are characterized by the expression of CD161.

Neuropathologic, phenotypic and functional analyses of Mucosal Associated Invariant T cells in Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: The involvement of Mucosal Associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells, which are anti-microbial semi-invariant T cells, remains elusive in Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Objective: Deciphering the potential involvement of MAIT cells in the MS inflammatory process.

Methods: By flow cytometry, blood MAIT cells from similar cohorts of MS patients and healthy volunteers (HV) were compared for frequency, phenotype, activation potential after in vitro TCR engagement by bacterial ligands and transmigration abilities through an in vitro model of blood-brain barrier.

Unaltered regulatory B-cell frequency and function in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system (CNS) typically characterized by the recruitment of T cells into the CNS. However, certain subsets of B cells have been shown to negatively regulate autoimmune diseases and some data support a prominent role for B cells in MS physiopathology. For B cells in MS patients we analyzed subset frequency, cytokine secretion ability and suppressive properties.

Characterization of antigen-specific B cells using nominal antigen-coated flow-beads.

In order to characterize the reactivity of B cells against nominal antigens, a method based on the coupling of antigens onto the surface of fluorescent core polystyrene beads was developed. We first demonstrate that murine B cells with a human MOG-specific BCR are able to interact with MOG-coated beads and do not recognize beads coated with human albumin or pp65. B cells purified from human healthy volunteer blood or immunized individuals were tested for their ability to interact with various nominal antigens, including viral, vaccine, self and alloantigens, chosen for their usefulness in studying a variety of pathological processes.

Increased risk of multiple sclerosis relapse after in vitro fertilisation.

Background: Exogenous sexual steroids together with pregnancy have been shown to influence the risk of relapses in multiple sclerosis (MS). Treatments used during assisted reproductive techniques may consequently influence the short term evolution of MS by modifying the hormonal status of the patient. The objective of this study was to determine if there was an increased risk of developing exacerbations in women with MS after in vitro fertilisation (IVF).