J Neuroimmunol 2003 Apr;137(1-2):197-209
Arbour N, Holz A, Sipe JC, Naniche D, Romine JS, Zyroff J, Oldstone
MB.
Division of Virology, Department of Neuropharmacology, The Scripps
Research Institute (IMM-6), 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, 92037, La Jolla,
CA, USA
We used a flow cytometry assay to measure proliferation and cytokine production of self-antigen-specific T cells in individual patients during the clinical course of multiple sclerosis (MS).
Myelin-associated oligodendrocytic basic protein (MOBP) was selected for proof of principles in the assay, along with myelin basic protein (MBP) to assess specific activated T cells in 10 MS patients over an 18-month period, in parallel with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and clinical rating scale.
A positive correlation occurred between antigen-specific T cell proliferation and interferon-gamma production with clinical relapses and MRI lesion activity that was absent when the same patients were in remission.