Aging-dependent immunological changes in multiple sclerosis.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Neuroimmunology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease.
• Increased life expectancy in people with MS (pwMS) necessitates understanding the impact of aging on their immune system (immunosenescence).

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize immunosenescence in pwMS by analyzing age-related immune system changes.
• To identify specific biomarkers of immune aging and neurodegeneration in pwMS.

Main Methods:

• Blood samples from pwMS and healthy controls (HCs) were analyzed.
• Immune cell populations (PBMCs), thymic involution, telomere attrition (DNA), and inflammatory/neurodegeneration markers (plasma) were assessed.

Main Results:

• Distinct age-associated alterations in B and NK cells were observed in pwMS compared to HCs.
• PwMS showed increased CD28-CD57+ and CD28+CD57+ T cells with age.
• Age correlated positively with IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, and NFL levels in pwMS, indicating inflammaging and neurodegeneration. Notably, NFL levels correlated with IL-6 and TNF-α specifically in pwMS.

Conclusions:

• This study provides a comprehensive, multi-biomarker characterization of immune aging in MS.
• Findings reveal unique age-related immune alterations in pwMS.
• Monitoring age and immunosenescence is crucial for MS clinical management and therapeutic strategies.