Evaluation of regulatory T lymphocytes and IL2Ra and FOXP3 gene expression in peripheral mononuclear cells from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

ConclusionThe results of our study are in line with the hypothesis that in the early phase of ALS, neuroprotective helper T cells infiltrate in the affected areas in the lumbar spinal cord. This was reflected in higher peripheral percentage of CD4+ helper T cells and higher expression of FOXP3 and IL-2R α. The observed demise in the number of active CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells might indicate early signs of progression to later stages of ALS in our study group. Interestingly, disease duration was the sole independent significant determining factor that predicted CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell counts in the peripheral blood of patients at various stages of ALS, according to a logistic regression model.
Source: Irish Journal of Medical Science - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research