Relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis patients exhibit differential natural killer functional subpopulations

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) and has been known as T-cell mediated. However, the contribution of multiple cell types, notably natural killer (NK) cells, has also been reported.

To quantify circulating total NK cells and its subpopulations, CD56 dim and bright, and to characterize the functional phenotype and IFN-γ and TNF-α production in relapsing–remitting patients treated with IFN-β and in apparently healthy controls.

CD56^bright NK cells were found to be the least represented subpopulation. In relapse patients, the frequencies of IFN-γ-producing NK cells and their subpopulations were significantly decreased. In remission patients, CD56^dim NK cells expressed high levels of HLA-DR and CD54.

These results suggest that remission RRMS patients, although in an inactive stage of MS, present circulating NK cells with an activation phenotype, supporting the idea that NK cells may be relevant mediators in the MS pathophysiology.