Increased Th17 response to myelin peptides in pediatric MS

Clin Immunol. 2013 Mar;146(3):176-84. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2012.12.008. Epub 2012 Dec 28.

Abstract

Studies of the underlying immune mechanisms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in children may shed light on the initial events of MS pathogenesis. We studied T cell responses to myelin peptides in 10 pediatric MS patients (PMS), 10 pediatric healthy controls (PHC), 10 adult MS patients (AMS) and 10 adult healthy controls (AHC). A significantly higher proportion of divided CD4+ T cell responses in response to myelin peptides by the CFSE assay in PMS compared to PHC at both concentrations of myelin peptide tested (t test, 95% CI, p=0.0067 for MP1; p=0.0086 for MP10), and between PMS and AMS (p=0.0012 at 1 μg/mL of myelin peptides, p<0.0001 at 10 μg/mL) was found. In addition, T cells with a central memory phenotype producing IL-17 were increased in PMS compared to PHC (p<0.05). IL-7 levels in culture supernatants were elevated in PMS compared to PHC and AMS (t test<0.01).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Cytokines / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / cytology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology*
  • Myelin Proteins / immunology
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Myelin Proteins
  • Peptides