Circulating dendritic cells subsets and regulatory T-cells at multiple sclerosis relapse: Differential short-term changes on corticosteroids therapy

Glucocorticoids remain the treatment of choice for MS relapses. However, little is known on the effect of intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) on dendritic cells (DCs) and regulatory T-cells (TReg). Our main goal was to quantify circulating myeloid and plasmacytoid DCs (mDCs and pDCs), and TReg at MS relapse versus healthy controls; and to analyse the short-term changes after IVMP for MS relapse. MS patients at relapse compared to controls showed higher %CD4+CD25high+ TReg (p < 0.01). After 5-days of IVMP, activated T-lymphocytes (p = 0.001), pDCs (p < 0.0001), and CD11c+ mDCs (p < 0.0001) decreased. By contrast, CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25high+ TReg further increased (p < 0.0001 both). Changes on these subsets may play a relevant role in the immunosuppressive activity of this drug.