OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical relevance of memory Th17 cells in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) or multiple sclerosis (MS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The proportion of peripheral memory Th17 cells was determined by flow cytometry. Sera IL-17A and IL-23 levels were detected by ELISA kits
Background: Optic neuritis (ON) is a common first demyelinating event in multiple sclerosis (MS), and one of absolute clinical events to diagnose neuromyelitis optica (NMO). However, it seemed not all ON attacks are clinically evident.
The clinical course of immune mediated optic neuritis (ON) will depend on the specific underlying inflammatory disease. These disorders have traditionally been classified according to clinical and MRI findings. Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) autoantibodies (neuromyelitis optica-IgG (NMO-IgG)) may have diagnostic and prognostic value in patients who present with isolated ON.
Growing evidence suggests that interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-17-secreting CD4(+)T (Th17) cells are involved in the pathogenic mechanisms of multiple sclerosis (MS). IL-17-secreting CD8(+) T cells were recently identified as a novel subset of CD8(+)T cells.