Author Of 1 Presentation
P0137 - Prognostic value of NK/T ratios for disease activity in multiple sclerosis (ID 1122)
Abstract
Background
BACKGROUND: Experimental, genetic and therapeutic studies suggest a role for natural killer (NK) cells in multiple sclerosis (MS). A study analysing the re-emergence of Th17 cells after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation proposes that the relative presence of NK cells compared to CD4+ T cells is beneficial in MS, as it is associated with lower levels of Th17. As such, they propose that NK/T cell ratios may be used as a biomarker for therapeutic effect of stem cell transplantation. This ratio has not been investigated in the context of clinical outcome. Additionally, the subsets of NK cells and T cells have not been investigated in regards to this NK/T cell ratio.
Objectives
OBJECTIVES: To explore the relevance of NK cell / CD4+ T cell ratios in a cohort of MS patients treated with interferon beta by analysing NK cell subsets and T cell subsets. Additionally, to find the prognostic value of these ratios for disease activity in MS
Methods
METHODS: Baseline peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 50 relapsing remitting MS patients, participating in our vitamin D supplementation study (the SOLARIUM study), were isolated and analysed with flow cytometry for NK and T cell subsets. MS disease activity was quantified by assessment of the occurrence of new MRI-lesions, relapses, and by measuring mean plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels at baseline and after 48 weeks follow-up.
Results
RESULTS: The proportion of NK cells correlated negatively with CD4+ T cells [R=-0.335 p=0.001] and IL17-A+CD4+ T cells [R=-0.203 p=0.043], which was mainly driven by the CD56bright subset. Participants with MRI activity or relapses at 48 weeks follow-up displayed lower NK/ IL-17A+ CD4+ T cell ratios [p=0.025 and p=0.006, respectively]. The NK / IL-17A+CD4+ T cell ratio correlated negatively with NfL levels [R=-0.320 p=0.050]. Vitamin D supplementation did not affect these ratios.
Conclusions
CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests a protective role of a relatively expanded NK cell compartment compared to the CD4+ T cell subset fractions in interferon beta-treated RRMS patients. Further research is required to confirm the use of the NK cell/CD4+ T cell ratio as prognostic biomarker for disease activity in MS.