Massive activity of cytotoxic cells during refractory Neuromyelitis Optica spectrum disorder

Vinícius O Boldrini; Carlos Otávio Brandão; Maria Lucia V Pimentel; Aline Vidal; Letícia F Mansur; Raphael P S Quintiliano; Leonilda M B Santos; Alessandro S Farias

doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2020.577148

Massive activity of cytotoxic cells during refractory Neuromyelitis Optica spectrum disorder

J Neuroimmunol. 2020 Mar 15:340:577148. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2020.577148. Epub 2020 Jan 9.

Authors

Vinícius O Boldrini¹, Carlos Otávio Brandão², Maria Lucia V Pimentel³, Aline Vidal⁴, Letícia F Mansur³, Raphael P S Quintiliano⁴, Leonilda M B Santos⁵, Alessandro S Farias⁶

Affiliations

¹ Autoimmune Research Lab, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil; Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Department of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
³ Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
⁴ Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
⁵ Autoimmune Research Lab, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil; Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Autoimmune Research Lab, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil; Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation (INCT-NIM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Experimental Medicine Research Cluster, Division of Immune-mediated Diseases, Brazil. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 31986375
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2020.577148

Abstract

Our group is interested in the cytotoxic mechanism during autoimmune neuroinflammation. Unexpectedly, we come across a case that presents a massive enhancement of cytotoxic behavior in lymphocytes, either in peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Interestingly, this specific patient was refractory to Methylprednisolone treatment. Hypothetically, the cytotoxic activity could represent a novel and complementary effector mechanism to NMOSD pathogenesis. Nevertheless, further investigation is needed to evaluate the extension and the clinical relevance of our finds.

Keywords: Cerebrospinal fluid; Granzyme B; Lymphocytes; Methylprednisolone; Neuroinflammation; Runx3.

Publication types

Case Reports
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / immunology*
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Neuromyelitis Optica / immunology*
T-Lymphocytes / immunology*