Immunological effects of methylprednisolone pulse treatment in progressive multiple sclerosis

R Ratzer; J Romme Christensen; B Romme Nielsen; P S Sørensen; L Börnsen; F Sellebjerg

doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2014.08.623

Immunological effects of methylprednisolone pulse treatment in progressive multiple sclerosis

J Neuroimmunol. 2014 Nov 15;276(1-2):195-201. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2014.08.623. Epub 2014 Aug 30.

Authors

R Ratzer¹, J Romme Christensen², B Romme Nielsen², P S Sørensen², L Börnsen², F Sellebjerg²

Affiliations

¹ Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

PMID: 25218212
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2014.08.623

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of monthly oral methylprednisolone pulse treatment in progressive MS.

Methods: 30 progressive MS patients were treated with oral methylprednisolone every month. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.

Results: Out of 102 leukocyte phenotypes investigated, 25 changed at nominal significance from baseline to week 12 (p<0.05). After correction for multiple comparisons, we found 5 subpopulations that changed compared to baseline. No pattern were suggesting modulation of Th17 or TFH cells.

Conclusion: Methylprednisolone pulse treatment has some effects on circulating immune cells but does not modulate markers of Th17 and TFH cell activity in progressive MS.

Keywords: CCR2; CD27; CD38; CD70; CD80; Methylprednisolone; Progressive multiple sclerosis.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Adult
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
Female
Flow Cytometry
Humans
Leukocytes, Mononuclear / drug effects*
Male
Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use*
Middle Aged
Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy*
Multiple Sclerosis / immunology*
Severity of Illness Index

Substances

Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Methylprednisolone