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CD26 + CD4 + T cell counts and attack risk in interferon-treated multiple sclerosis
F Sellebjerg1, C Ross, N Koch-Henriksen
1The MS Clinic, Copenhagen University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark. sellebjerg@dadlnet.dk
Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|December 3, 2005
Summary
Identifying patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who may not respond to treatment is crucial. Elevated CD26+ CD4+ T cell counts can predict an increased risk of disease attacks during interferon-beta therapy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neurology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Current immunomodulatory treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) have incomplete efficacy.
- Identifying patients with an insufficient treatment response is clinically significant.
- Altered T cell expression of CD25, CD26, and CCR5 is observed in active MS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate T cell surface markers as potential biomarkers for predicting treatment response in MS.
- To assess the utility of CD26+ CD4+ T cell counts in identifying patients at risk of disease activity during immunomodulatory therapy.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to analyze T cell marker expression.
- Patient samples were collected over a six-month treatment period.
- Hazard ratios were calculated to assess the risk of disease attacks.
Main Results:
- In patients treated with interferon-beta (IFN-beta), elevated CD26+ CD4+ T cell counts (above median) were associated with a 28-fold increased hazard ratio for disease attacks.
- This increased risk was independent of neutralizing anti-IFN-beta antibodies.
- CD26+ CD4+ T cell counts emerged as a significant predictive factor.
Conclusions:
- CD26+ CD4+ T cell counts can serve as a predictive biomarker for MS patients experiencing disease attacks during IFN-beta treatment.
- This finding aids in personalizing MS treatment strategies.
- Further validation of CD26+ CD4+ T cells as a predictive biomarker is warranted.