Abstract
Rebound of disease activity in multiple sclerosis patients after natalizumab withdrawal is a potentially life-threatening event. To verify whether highly destructive inflammation after natalizumab withdrawal is associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation in central nervous system infiltrating B-lineage cells and cytotoxic immunity, we analyzed post-mortem brain tissue from a patient who died during a fulminating MS relapse following natalizumab withdrawal. Numerous EBV infected B cells/plasma cells and CD8 + T cells infiltrated all white matter lesions; the highest frequency of EBV lytically infected cells and granzyme B + CD8 + T cells was observed in actively demyelinating lesions. These results may encourage switching to B-cell depleting therapy after natalizumab discontinuation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 14-17 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Journal of Neuroimmunology |
Volume | 307 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 15 2017 |
Keywords
- Cytotoxic T lymphocytes
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Histopathology
- Multiple sclerosis
- Natalizumab
- Post-mortem
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology