Expansion of CD56Bright natural killer cells in the peripheral blood of multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon-beta

Neurol Sci. 2007 Jun;28(3):121-6. doi: 10.1007/s10072-007-0803-3. Epub 2007 Jun 30.

Abstract

We studied how interferon-beta (IFN-beta) treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) affects subgroups of natural killer cells (NK cells). Following IFN-beta treatment, there was an expansion of CD56(Bright) NK-cells in the peripheral blood of MS patients, while at the same time the proportion of CD56(Dim) cells was diminished. In a control group, the proportion of CD56(Bright) NK-cells was significantly higher in secondary lymphoid tissues compared to the peripheral blood of the same individual. Our findings confirm that CD56(Bright) NK-cells preferably locate within the secondary lymphoid tissues, where they may interact with T cells and thereby contribute to the control of the disease activity in MS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CD56 Antigen / drug effects*
  • CD56 Antigen / immunology
  • CD56 Antigen / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Interferon-beta / therapeutic use*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / drug effects*
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / blood
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / drug therapy
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / immunology*

Substances

  • CD56 Antigen
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Interferon-beta