NK Cells and Innate-Like T Cells After Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Multiple Sclerosis

• Published in: Frontiers in immunology Vol. 12; p. 794077
• Main Authors: Ruder, Josefine, Rex, Jordan, Obahor, Simon, Docampo, María José, Müller, Antonia M S, Schanz, Urs, Jelcic, Ilijas, Martin, Roland
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 16.12.2021
• Subjects: Adult; aHSCT; atypical T cells; Case-Control Studies; CD56 Antigen - metabolism; CD56bright NK cells; Female; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Immunology; innate-like T cells; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Killer Cells, Natural - metabolism; Male; Middle Aged; multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive - diagnosis; Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive - immunology; Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive - metabolism; Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive - surgery; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - diagnosis; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - immunology; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - metabolism; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - surgery; NK cells; Phenotype; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Transplantation, Autologous; Treatment Outcome; NK cells; NKT cells; atypical T cells; aHSCT; MAIT cells; multiple sclerosis; innate-like T cells; CD56bright NK cells
• ISSN: 1664-3224; 1664-3224
• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.794077

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, in which autoreactive T and B cells play important roles. Other lymphocytes such as NK cells and innate-like T cells appear to be involved as well. To name a few examples, CD56 NK cells were described as an immunoregulatory NK cell subset in MS while innate-like T cells in MS were described in brain lesions and with proinflammatory signatures. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) is a procedure used to treat MS. This procedure includes hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) mobilization, then high-dose chemotherapy combined with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and subsequent infusion of the patients own HSPCs to reconstitute a functional immune system. aHSCT inhibits MS disease activity very effectively and for long time, presumably due to elimination of autoreactive T cells. Here, we performed multidimensional flow cytometry experiments in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 27 MS patients before and after aHSCT to address its potential influence on NK and innate-like T cells. After aHSCT, the relative frequency and absolute numbers of CD56 NK cells rise above pre-aHSCT levels while all studied innate-like T cell populations decrease. Hence, our data support an enhanced immune regulation by CD56 NK cells and the efficient reduction of proinflammatory innate-like T cells by aHSCT in MS. These observations contribute to our current understanding of the immunological effects of aHSCT in MS.