A new approach for evaluating antigen-specific t cell responses to myelin antigens during the course of multiple sclerosis

Academic Article
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publication date

  • April 2003

abstract

  • 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.