Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026
Flow Cytometric Analysis of Lymphocyte Infiltration in Central Nervous System during Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Published on: November 17, 2020
A new approach for evaluating antigen-specific T cell responses to myelin antigens during the course of multiple
Nathalie Arbour1, Andreas Holz, Jack C Sipe
1Division of Virology, Department of Neuropharmacology, The Scripps Research Institute (IMM-6), 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. nathaliearbour@hotmail.com
We used a flow cytometry assay to measure proliferation and cytokine production of self-antigen-specific T cells in individual patients during the clinical course of multiple sclerosis (MS). Myelin-associated oligodendrocytic basic protein (MOBP) was selected for proof of principles in the assay, along with myelin basic protein (MBP) to assess specific activated T cells in 10 MS patients over an 18-month period, in parallel with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and clinical rating scale. A positive correlation occurred between antigen-specific T cell proliferation and interferon-gamma production with clinical relapses and MRI lesion activity that was absent when the same patients were in remission.
We used a flow cytometry assay to measure proliferation and cytokine production of self-antigen-specific T cells in individual patients during the clinical course of multiple sclerosis (MS). Myelin-associated oligodendrocytic basic protein (MOBP) was selected for proof of principles in the assay, along with myelin basic protein (MBP) to assess specific activated T cells in 10 MS patients over an 18-month period, in parallel with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and clinical rating scale. A positive correlation occurred between antigen-specific T cell proliferation and interferon-gamma production with clinical relapses and MRI lesion activity that was absent when the same patients were in remission.
