CSF enrichment of highly differentiated CD8+ T cells in early multiple sclerosis

CD8+ T cells may play an important role in multiple sclerosis (MS). Whether these cells would be involved in early stages of MS is unclear.We enrolled 52 patients with suspected MS, determined the recruitment of their highly differentiated (CCR7−/CD45RA+ or −) T cells (THD) in the CSF as compared to peripheral blood and followed them for 12 ± 7.3 months. A ROC curve showed that a CD8+/CD4+ THD cells ratio of 0.94 helped to distinguish relapsing–remitting (RR-MS) and possible MS (Po-MS) from primary-progressive MS (PP-MS) and other neurological diseases patients (OND) patients (p = 0.039), risk ratio of 2.29 (95% CI: 1.13–4.66; p = 0.006). The CSF enrichment in CD8+ THD cells was greater than in CD4+ THD cells in RR/Po-MS patients (p = 0.024) and than in CD8+ THD cells in PP-MS/OND patients (p = 0.006). These data suggest that CD8+ THD cells play a role in the early stages of RR-MS.