T cell deficiency may explain Multiple Sclerosis-v

[MSUK]

Evidence that MS patients are deficient in the T cells that normally control Epstein-Barr virus may help explain the pathogenesis of the disease, Australian researchers say.

Professor Michael Pender and colleagues at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital found the average percentage of CD8 T cells was significantly decreased in the blood of MS patients compared with healthy subjects.

They also made the “striking” discovery that the proportion of CD8 T cells declined markedly with age in MS patients compared with healthy controls,
based on their study of 64 MS patients and 68 healthy age and sex-matched subjects.

Reporting their findings in a letter in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, they wrote: “What is remarkable about the CD8 T cell deficiency in MS is that normally when EBV load is increased, as it is in the blood and brain of MS patients, the CD8 T cell frequency should increase and not decrease.... Read More - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... ageid/1100

[Wonderfulworld]

This would make me wonder how Gilenya could work for MS, given that it keeps T-cells out of circulation?

[Bethr]

I find this very interesting! During my research on iron metabolism I saw this study http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... 250223/pdf on CD4/CD8 ratios which showed people with low CD8-CD4 (low CD8) ratios were symptomatic in iron overloading. Whereas those with more balanced ratios were asymptomatic. These ratios did not change after iron removal so seem to be set for life.

I would really like to have my ratios of T-Cells checked for balance, as I'm very symptomatic with even a mild iron overload. I also have very high lymphocyte counts because I have no spleen. But maybe the
balance of CD4-CD8 T-cells is the more important factor.

I've finally got in to see a Hemotologist next month. So might ask if that can be checked.

I've had no more "brain" events since getting my iron levels lowered by phlebotomy in mid 2010. Very little fatigue either, maybe a couple of days a month currently.

[Wonderfulworld]

That is very intruiging Bethr.
I wonder now if I might be high in CD8 so........... I took a very high iron supplement recently for the first time in years. It has made a massive difference to how I feel - a major improvement in my fatigue that I thought was completely MS-fatigue. I must have been borderline iron deficient for years. I had a count of 12 in May but obviously this is not optimal for my functioning even though it is technically 'normal'.
I wonder if all MS'ers are in the low CD8 group, or is it just some.