Increased Th17 response to myelin peptides in pediatric MS

Studies of the underlying immune mechanisms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in children may shed light on the initial events of MS pathogenesis. We studied T cell responses to myelin peptides in 10 pediatric MS patients (PMS), 10 pediatric healthy controls (PHC), 10 adult MS patients (AMS) and 10 adult healthy controls (AHC). A significantly higher proportion of divided CD4 + T cell responses in response to myelin peptides by the CFSE assay in PMS compared to PHC at both concentrations of myelin peptide tested (t test, 95% CI, p = 0.0067 for MP1; p = 0.0086 for MP10), and between PMS and AMS (p = 0.0012 at 1 μg/mL of myelin peptides, p < 0.0001 at 10 μg/mL) was found. In addition, T cells with a central memory phenotype producing IL-17 were increased in PMS compared to PHC (p < 0.05). IL-7 levels in culture supernatants were elevated in PMS compared to PHC and AMS (t test < 0.01).

► T cell proliferation to myelin peptides is increased in MS children versus controls. ► T cell proliferation in pediatric MS is increased compared to adult MS. ► Th17 cells with a central memory phenotype were increased in children with MS.