We - Neuroimmunology

Question 1

True or false: There’s a disbalance in MS between regulatory T cells and Th17 T cells

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Why are there more CD8+ T cells in MS brains than CD4+ T cells?

Answer 2

CNS cells besides microglia don’t express MHC class 2, the class that CD4+ T cells recognise. CD8+ T cells recognise MHC class 1, which is the MHC that CNS cells (besides microglia) express.

Question 3

Why are there so many CD8+ T cells in lesions in MS? (2)

Answer 3

Clonal expansion happens in lesions, and vascular permeability is promoted.

Question 4

With what type of damage do CD8+ T cells in lesions in MS correlate with?

Answer 4

Axonal damage

Question 5

What do macrophages do in MS?

Answer 5

Myelin phagocytosis

Question 6

Which cells activate microglia in MS-neuron phagocytosis?

Answer 6

B-cells

Question 7

How do immune cells come into the CNS in MS?

Answer 7

The blood brain barriers are disturbed and inflamed

Question 8

What does Natalizumab anti-VLA-4-Ab do exactly?

Answer 8

Sequesters leukocytes in the blood stream by targeting the alpha4-integrin containing adhesion molecules required for migration, preventing the crossing of the blood brain barrier by leukocytes.

Question 9

What does fingolimod do exactly? (2)

Answer 9

Fingolimod binds to a receptor that immune cells have (S1P1) so that they cannot exit the lymph node. Normally the immune cells sense the S1P gradient to exit the lymph node but now they cannot do that anymore. Because fingolimod is a lipid it can cross the BBB and limit the inflammation in the brain.