Changes in circulating pro-inflammatory lymphocytes and cortical excitability with extended-interval natalizumab...

Natalizumab is a potent treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). By inhibiting immune cell trafficking to the CNS it increases the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Extended interval dosing (EID) aims to mitigate PML risk by partly restoring immune surveillance. End-of-dose symptoms, frequently reported by people on EID, may reflect an increased inflammatory cell trafficking.

Twenty-five clinically and radiographically stable individuals on EID underwent neuropsychological (processing speed - PASAT and SDMT; self-reported fatigue - FSS), neurophysiological (SICI - Short Intracortical Inhibition, ICF- Intracortical facilitation, and CSP- cortical silent period), immunological assessments (circulating lymphocytes subpopulations and cytokines production), and plasma neurofilament quantification at the 2nd-4th and 6th-8th week after infusion.

24/25 participants subjectively reported increased fatigue at the end-of-dose; no change in processing speed or self-reported fatigue was detected. At the end-of-dose, a selective drop in IFN𝛾-producing lymphocytes (CD4+: -57.7%, p = 0.01; CD8+: -41.45%, p = 0.014; NK: -54.23%, p = 0.033) and other pro-inflammatory lymphocyte subsets was observed compared with the intermediate visit. Furthermore, we observed changes in GABAergic cortical excitability, with an increased GABA-A dependent inhibition of the primary motor cortex at the end-of-dose (SICI, + 46.9%, p = 0.026) and a similar trend for GABA-B depended inhibition (CSP). Plasma neurofilament fluctuations were below the study's detection power.

Pro-inflammatory lymphocytes escape peripheral circulation at the end-of-dose, in the absence of clinical or radiographic disease activity. The observed change in GABA-dependent cortical inhibition may reflect this increased CNS lymphocyte trafficking. No association with end-of-dose symptoms was found.