Effector T Helper Cells Are Selectively Controlled During Pregnancy and Related to a Postpartum Relapse in Multiple Sclerosis.

ABSTRACT: Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are protected from relapses during pregnancy and have an increased relapse risk after delivery. It is unknown how pregnancy controls disease-contributing CD4⁺ T helper (Th) cells and whether this differs in MS patients who experience a postpartum relapse. Here, we studied the effector phenotype of Th cells in relation to pregnancy and postpartum relapse occurrence in MS. Methods: Memory skewing and activation of effector Th subsets were analyzed in paired third trimester and postpartum blood of 19 MS patients with and without a postpartum relapse and 12 healthy controls. Ex vivo results were associated with circulating levels of pregnancy-induced hormones and mirrored in vitro by exposing proliferating Th c

SUBMITTER: Koetzier SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8005718 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature