Autoimmune T cell responses in the central nervous system

Goverman J2009Nature reviews. ImmunologyReview

Immune/InnateNeurological

Abstract

Autoreactive T cell responses have a crucial role in central nervous system (CNS) diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Recent data indicate that CNS autoimmunity can be mediated by two distinct lineages of CD4+ T cells that are defined by the production of either interferon-gamma or interleukin-17. The activity of these CD4+ T cell subsets within the CNS influences the pathology and clinical course of disease. New animal models show that myelin-specific CD8+ T cells can also mediate CNS autoimmunity. This Review focuses on recent progress in delineating the pathogenic mechanisms, regulation and interplay between these different T cell subsets in CNS autoimmunity.

Key Biomarkers

T cellsTGFBTh17

Cited By (3)

T helper 17 cell heterogeneity and pathogenicity in autoimmune diseaseTrends in Immunology · 2011
CD44 reciprocally regulates the differentiation of encephalitogenic Th1/TH17 and Th2/regulatory T cells through epigenetic modulation involving DNA methylation of cytokine gene promoters, thereby controlling the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitisThe Journal of Immunology · 2011
Induction of Distinct Neurologic Disease Manifestations during Relapsing Fever Requires T LymphocytesThe Journal of Immunology · 2010

References (3)

A functional and structural basis for TCR cross-reactivity in multiple sclerosisNature Immunology · 2002
Glia-dependent TGF-β signaling, acting independently of the TH17 pathway, is critical for initiation of murine autoimmune encephalomyelitisJournal of Clinical Investigation · 2007
IL-17 and Th17 cellsAnnual Review of Immunology · 2009