Similar sensitivity of regulatory T cells towards CD95L-mediated apoptosis in patients with multiple sclerosis and healthy individuals

J Neurol Sci. 2006 Dec 21;251(1-2):91-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2006.09.006. Epub 2006 Nov 7.

Abstract

Impaired suppressive function of CD4(+)CD25(high) regulatory T cells (T(reg)) has been reported as a novel pathogenetic mechanism in Multiple sclerosis (MS). We addressed if high apoptosis sensitivity of MS-T(reg) could explain this functional T(reg) defect. T(reg) from treatment-naïve MS patients showed high sensitivity towards CD95Ligand-mediated apoptosis and exhibited enhanced cell death to IL-2 and TCR-signal deprivation. Since susceptibility of T(reg) to cell death was similar in MS patients and healthy controls, this cannot explain the inhibitory dysfunction of T(reg) associated with MS. Furthermore, as cell death is not enhanced, therapeutic expansion of MS-T(reg)in vitro should be a reasonable and novel therapeutic option.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Count / methods
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Fas Ligand Protein / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry / methods
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / pathology*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / physiopathology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / drug effects
  • fas Receptor / metabolism

Substances

  • Fas Ligand Protein
  • Interleukin-2
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • fas Receptor