Circulating dendritic cells subsets and regulatory T-cells at multiple sclerosis relapse: Differential short-term changes on corticosteroids therapy

• Published in: Journal of neuroimmunology Vol. 176; no. 1; pp. 153 - 161
• Main Authors: Navarro, Joaquín, Aristimuño, Carol, Sánchez-Ramón, Silvia, Vigil, Dolores, Martínez-Ginés, Ma. Luisa, Fernández-Cruz, Eduardo, de Andrés, Clara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.07.2006
• Subjects: Activated and regulatory T-cells; Adolescent; Adult; Dendritic cells; Dendritic Cells - drug effects; Female; HLA-DR Antigens - analysis; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Methylprednisolone; Methylprednisolone - administration & dosage; Middle Aged; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - drug therapy; Multiple Sclerosis - immunology; Relapse; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - drug effects; IVMP; Multiple sclerosis; Relapse; Dendritic cells; DCs; mDCs; MS; pDCs; T Reg; Methylprednisolone; Activated and regulatory T-cells
• ISSN: 0165-5728; 1872-8421
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2006.03.022

Glucocorticoids remain the treatment of choice for MS relapses. However, little is known on the effect of intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) on dendritic cells (DCs) and regulatory T-cells (T Reg). Our main goal was to quantify circulating myeloid and plasmacytoid DCs (mDCs and pDCs), and T Reg at MS relapse versus healthy controls; and to analyse the short-term changes after IVMP for MS relapse. MS patients at relapse compared to controls showed higher %CD4 +CD25 high+ T Reg ( p < 0.01). After 5-days of IVMP, activated T-lymphocytes ( p = 0.001), pDCs ( p < 0.0001), and CD11c + mDCs ( p < 0.0001) decreased. By contrast, CD4 +CD25 + and CD4 +CD25 high+ T Reg further increased ( p < 0.0001 both). Changes on these subsets may play a relevant role in the immunosuppressive activity of this drug.