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The Ex Vivo Production of IL-6 and IL-21 by CD4+ T Cells is Directly Associated with Neurological Disability in Neuromyelitis Optica Patients

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Abstract

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), also known as Devic’s disease, is an autoimmune, inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) in which the immune system attacks myelin of the neurons located at the optic nerves and spinal cord, thus producing a simultaneous or sequential optic neuritis and myelitis. The objective of this study was evaluated the background T-cell function of patients suffering from neuromyelitis optica (NMO), an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system. In our study, the in vitro T cell proliferation and the production of Th1 cytokines were significantly lower in cell cultures from NMO patients, as compared with healthy individuals. In contrast, a dominant Th17-like phenotype, associate with higher IL-23 and IL-6 production by LPS-activated monocytes, was observed among NMO patients. The release of IL-21 and IL-6 by polyclonaly activated CD4+ T cells was directly correlated to neurological disability. In addition, the in vitro release of IL-21, IL-6 and IL-17 was significantly more resistant to glucocorticoid inhibition in NMO patients. In conclusion, the results indicate dominate Th17-related response in NMO patients that was directly proportional to neurological disability. Furthermore, our results can help to explain why NMO patients trend to be more refractory to corticoid treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Postgraduate Program in Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Ulisses C. Linhares, Patrícia B. Schiavoni & Regina Alvarenga

  2. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Frei Caneca 94, 20.261-040, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Priscila O. Barros, Taissa M. Kasahara, Bruna Teixeira, Thais B. Ferreira, Joana Hygino, Morgana M. M. Vieira, Vera Carolina B. Bittencourt & Cleonice A. M. Bento

  3. Department of General Medicine/Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, University of State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Regis M. Andrade

  4. Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University of State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Arnaldo F. Andrade

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  1. Ulisses C. Linhares
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  2. Patrícia B. Schiavoni
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Correspondence to Cleonice A. M. Bento.

Additional information

This work was supported by Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de amparo à pesquisa do estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq).

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Linhares, U.C., Schiavoni, P.B., Barros, P.O. et al. The Ex Vivo Production of IL-6 and IL-21 by CD4+ T Cells is Directly Associated with Neurological Disability in Neuromyelitis Optica Patients. J Clin Immunol 33, 179–189 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-012-9780-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-012-9780-2

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