Early activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes by myelin basic protein in subjects with MS

Multiple sclerosis is the most common autoimmune disorder affecting the central nervous system. In this study, whole blood samples were analyzed for activation capacity and the activatability of CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes by human total myelin basic protein (MBP), human MBP 104-118 fragment, and guinea pig MBP 68-82 fragment.

Whole blood samples from healthy human subjects were compared with samples from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In particular, the expression of CD69, a surface marker of T-lymphocyte activity, was measured via flow cytometry before and after 14 h of incubation with human total MBP, MBP 104-118 fragment and/or guinea pig MBP 68-82 fragment. The results were compared between 15 patients with MS and 15 healthy subjects.

In response to all three MBP forms, CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes from patients with MS demonstrated greater activatability than those from healthy subjects. These results indicate that in patients with MS, latent pre-activation to MBP epitopes results in an increased activation capacity of T-lymphocytes.

This effect may occur because immunization against MBP (at least in a subset of patients) plays a pathophysiological role in MS pathogenesis. Alternatively, this result may represent a non-specific, bystander autoimmune phenomenon.