Hyaluronate receptor (CD44) and integrin α4 (CD49d) are up-regulated on T cells during MS relapses

A longitudinal study of peripheral blood T cell adhesion molecule expression was performed in 24 relapsing-remitting MS patients. There were 15 relapses in 11 patients during 15 months of observation. In comparison with remission, expression of hyaluronate receptor (CD44) was highly significant, and expression of integrin α4 (CD49d, VLA-4) significantly up-regulated during relapses. CD44 and CD49d are putative activity markers and CD44 a potential novel therapeutic target in MS.