CELLULAR IMMUNITY PARAMETERS IN PATIENTS WITH REMITTING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

The aim of this work was to study some parameters of cellular immunity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The study included 10 patients with relapsing-remitting MS aged 32 to 50 years. Diagnosis was clinically established and confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Patients did not receive immunosuppressive therapy for at least 6 months prior to study entry. The neurological status of all examined patients was assessed using the Kurtzke functional scale using the Extended Disability Scale (EDSS) and averaged 4.0±0.67 points, the mean number of exacerbations per year was 1.25±0.25. While studying such parameters of the immune status such as the number of T, B, NK-cells, the content of immunoglobulins, the phagocytic activity of monocytes and granulocytes, their production of reactive oxygen species, no significant differences were observed in patients with MS in comparison with the normal donor level. At the same time, we have noted an increase in the proliferative response of mononuclear blood cells to myelin antigen by 2.35 times. The content of CD4⁺CD45RO⁺CD62L⁺ and CD8⁺CD45RO⁺CD62L⁺ central memory T-cells, as well as CD8⁺CD45RO⁺CD62L^- effector memory T-cells in the blood of MS patients significantly exceeded the control values (p < 0.05). Also, in MS patients, compared with healthy individuals, there was an increased level of naive IFNγ-positive CD4⁺CD45RO^- and CD8⁺CD45ROT-cells (p < 0.01), and an increase in CD4⁺CD45RO⁺ and CD8⁺CD45RO⁺ memory T-cells producing IFNγg or IFNγg together with IL-4 in response to the activation (p < 0.01). Consistent with these data, there were significantly increased serum IFNγ and IL-17 levels and no changes in IL-4 levels. The relative level of naive CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺, as well as induced CD4⁺CD25^- FoxP3⁺ regulatory T-cells in MS patients did not significantly change compared to donor values. The results of assessing some parameters of the immune status in MS patients indicate a functional reshaping of the immune system towards the Th1 type of immune response. It is obvious that immunotropic treatment of MS should be aimed at inactivating auto-immune Tand B-lymphocytes, suppressing the production of proinflammatory mediators, and enhancing the activity of natural and induced regulatory T-cells. 

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