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Updated: May 28, 2026

Isolation and Th17 Differentiation of Naïve CD4 T Lymphocytes
Published on: September 26, 2013
Th17 expansion in MS patients is counterbalanced by an expanded CD39+ regulatory T cell population during remission
Evelyn Peelen1, Jan Damoiseaux, Joost Smolders
1School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands. evelyn.peelen@maastrichtuniversity.nl
In this study, percentages of CD39(+) Treg and Th17 cells were compared between relapsing-remitting MS patients and controls and were related to the vitamin D status. The Th17 cell population was expanded in about 40% of the MS patients. In MS patients in remission, but not during relapse, a positive association was found between Th17 cell and CD39(+) Treg percentages (r=0.468, p=0.007). Since CD39(+) Tregs have been shown to have Th17 suppressive capacities, we propose that a dysregulated Th17/CD39(+) Treg balance might contribute to disease exacerbation. A clear role for vitamin D in this regulation could not be established.
In this study, percentages of CD39(+) Treg and Th17 cells were compared between relapsing-remitting MS patients and controls and were related to the vitamin D status. The Th17 cell population was expanded in about 40% of the MS patients. In MS patients in remission, but not during relapse, a positive association was found between Th17 cell and CD39(+) Treg percentages (r=0.468, p=0.007). Since CD39(+) Tregs have been shown to have Th17 suppressive capacities, we propose that a dysregulated Th17/CD39(+) Treg balance might contribute to disease exacerbation. A clear role for vitamin D in this regulation could not be established.
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