Peripheral blood non-MAIT CD8+CD161hi cells are decreased in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon beta

J Neuroimmunol. 2015 Nov 15:288:98-101. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2015.09.007. Epub 2015 Sep 25.

Abstract

CD8+CD161hi cells, comprising MAIT and non-MAIT cells, have been involved in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. Here, we investigated the frequency of CD8+CD161hi, MAIT and non-MAIT cells by flow cytometry in peripheral blood samples from 41 untreated MS patients, 48 patients receiving disease modifying therapies, and 17 healthy controls (HC). IFNβ treatment was associated with a decrease in the frequency of Tc17 cells compared to untreated patients (p=0.019). No significant differences were observed between untreated MS patients and HC for any of the study cell populations. These results suggest previously unknown mechanisms of action of IFNβ.

Keywords: CD161; CD8+CD161hi; Immunomodulatory treatments; Interleukin-17; Mucosal-associated invariant T cells; Multiple sclerosis; Tc17.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Interferon-beta / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Multiple Sclerosis / blood
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology*
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*

Substances

  • Immunologic Factors
  • KLRB1 protein, human
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B
  • Interferon-beta