Eomesodermin-expressing CD4+ Th cells and association with pregnancy in multiple sclerosis
Background: Pregnancy in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is accompanied by a decline of relapse activity with increased risk of relapses 3 months post-partum, for unknown reasons. Eomesodermin + T-helper cells (Eomes + Th cells) are known to mediate neuroinflammation and disease progression in...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/17562864241229321 |
| _version_ | 1797304930553298944 |
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| author | Simon Faissner Marielena Bongert Paulina Trendelenburg Sandra Thiel Takashi Yamamura Kerstin Hellwig Ralf Gold |
| author_facet | Simon Faissner Marielena Bongert Paulina Trendelenburg Sandra Thiel Takashi Yamamura Kerstin Hellwig Ralf Gold |
| author_sort | Simon Faissner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Pregnancy in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is accompanied by a decline of relapse activity with increased risk of relapses 3 months post-partum, for unknown reasons. Eomesodermin + T-helper cells (Eomes + Th cells) are known to mediate neuroinflammation and disease progression in MS and are induced by prolactin-secreting cells. Objectives: Here, investigated immune cell alterations and the pathophysiological role of Eomes + Th cells for disease activity during pregnancy and post-partum in MS. Methods: We enrolled n = 81 pregnant patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), n = 27 post-partum RRMS and n = 26 female RRMS control patients under the umbrella of the German Multiple Sclerosis and Pregnancy Registry. Clinical data were collected and immune cell alterations were analysed using flow cytometry. Results: While CD3 + CD4 + Th cells were unaffected, CD3 + CD8 + cytotoxic T-cells were elevated post-partum ( p = 0.02) with reduced B-cell frequencies ( p = 0.01) compared to non-pregnant RRMS patients. NK cells were elevated during first trimester ( p = 0.02) compared to the third trimester. Frequencies of Eomes + Th and Eomes + Tc cells did not differ. There was no correlation of prolactin release and expression of Eomes + Th cells. However, Eomes + Th cells correlated with lower frequencies of regulatory T-cells during second ( r = −0.42; p < 0.05) and third trimester ( r = −0.37; p < 0.05). Moreover, Eomes + Th cells correlated with frequencies of B-cells during third trimester ( r = 0.54; p = 0.02). Frequencies of Eomes + Th cells were not associated with the number of relapses before pregnancy, during pregnancy or post-partum. However, Eomes + Th cells strongly correlated with disability post-partum as assessed using the EDSS ( r = 0.52; p = 0.009). Discussion: Pregnancy in MS is associated with robust immunological alterations. Eomes + Th cells are capable of inducing immune cell alterations during the course of pregnancy, most evident during the second and third trimester as shown with a correlation of reduced Treg cells and a significant increase of B-cells. Importantly, Eomes + Th cells correlate with disability post-partum. In summary, during late pregnancy in MS an inflammatory, cytotoxic and dysregulated immunological environment is primed gaining function post-delivery. This may be responsible for post-partum disability accumulation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:16:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-def04d32359b4f41adfa56938d6d416f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-2864 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:16:31Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-def04d32359b4f41adfa56938d6d416f2024-02-17T02:04:33ZengSAGE PublishingTherapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders1756-28642024-02-011710.1177/17562864241229321Eomesodermin-expressing CD4+ Th cells and association with pregnancy in multiple sclerosisSimon FaissnerMarielena BongertPaulina TrendelenburgSandra ThielTakashi YamamuraKerstin HellwigRalf GoldBackground: Pregnancy in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is accompanied by a decline of relapse activity with increased risk of relapses 3 months post-partum, for unknown reasons. Eomesodermin + T-helper cells (Eomes + Th cells) are known to mediate neuroinflammation and disease progression in MS and are induced by prolactin-secreting cells. Objectives: Here, investigated immune cell alterations and the pathophysiological role of Eomes + Th cells for disease activity during pregnancy and post-partum in MS. Methods: We enrolled n = 81 pregnant patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), n = 27 post-partum RRMS and n = 26 female RRMS control patients under the umbrella of the German Multiple Sclerosis and Pregnancy Registry. Clinical data were collected and immune cell alterations were analysed using flow cytometry. Results: While CD3 + CD4 + Th cells were unaffected, CD3 + CD8 + cytotoxic T-cells were elevated post-partum ( p = 0.02) with reduced B-cell frequencies ( p = 0.01) compared to non-pregnant RRMS patients. NK cells were elevated during first trimester ( p = 0.02) compared to the third trimester. Frequencies of Eomes + Th and Eomes + Tc cells did not differ. There was no correlation of prolactin release and expression of Eomes + Th cells. However, Eomes + Th cells correlated with lower frequencies of regulatory T-cells during second ( r = −0.42; p < 0.05) and third trimester ( r = −0.37; p < 0.05). Moreover, Eomes + Th cells correlated with frequencies of B-cells during third trimester ( r = 0.54; p = 0.02). Frequencies of Eomes + Th cells were not associated with the number of relapses before pregnancy, during pregnancy or post-partum. However, Eomes + Th cells strongly correlated with disability post-partum as assessed using the EDSS ( r = 0.52; p = 0.009). Discussion: Pregnancy in MS is associated with robust immunological alterations. Eomes + Th cells are capable of inducing immune cell alterations during the course of pregnancy, most evident during the second and third trimester as shown with a correlation of reduced Treg cells and a significant increase of B-cells. Importantly, Eomes + Th cells correlate with disability post-partum. In summary, during late pregnancy in MS an inflammatory, cytotoxic and dysregulated immunological environment is primed gaining function post-delivery. This may be responsible for post-partum disability accumulation.https://doi.org/10.1177/17562864241229321 |
| spellingShingle | Simon Faissner Marielena Bongert Paulina Trendelenburg Sandra Thiel Takashi Yamamura Kerstin Hellwig Ralf Gold Eomesodermin-expressing CD4+ Th cells and association with pregnancy in multiple sclerosis Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders |
| title | Eomesodermin-expressing CD4+ Th cells and association with pregnancy in multiple sclerosis |
| title_full | Eomesodermin-expressing CD4+ Th cells and association with pregnancy in multiple sclerosis |
| title_fullStr | Eomesodermin-expressing CD4+ Th cells and association with pregnancy in multiple sclerosis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eomesodermin-expressing CD4+ Th cells and association with pregnancy in multiple sclerosis |
| title_short | Eomesodermin-expressing CD4+ Th cells and association with pregnancy in multiple sclerosis |
| title_sort | eomesodermin expressing cd4 th cells and association with pregnancy in multiple sclerosis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/17562864241229321 |
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