Insight into the associations of MS-associated <i>IL2RA</i> SNPs, as these new findings provide, offers a better understanding of CD25 variation in the immune system and can lead to new insights into how MS-associated SNPs contribute to development of MS.
Genetic polymorphism (rs1800693) of TNFRSF1A (type 1 tumour necrosis factor receptor) encodes a potentially anti-inflammatory soluble truncated form of the p55 receptor, which is associated with predisposition to multiple sclerosis but protection against ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
The gene polymorphisms at the loci of IL2RArs2104286 and rs12722489 may increase the onset risk of MS. IL2RA-rs2104286 showed a positive relationship with CXCR5-rs3922.
We hypothesized that gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy controls (HCs) and MS patients are associated with IL2RA SNP rs2104286 and that gene expression levels correlate with soluble CD25 (sCD25) concentrations - that are affected by rs2104286.
Blockage of CD25, among other effects, causes expansion and enhanced function of regulatory CD56<sup>bright</sup> natural killer cells, which seems to be the leading mechanism of action in MS.
More importantly, UC-MSC-primed Tregs of MS patients significantly inhibited the proliferation of PHA-stimulated autologous and allogeneic CD4+CD25- T effector cells (Teffs) from MS patients and healthy individuals compared to non-UC-MSC-primed (naïve) Tregs from the same MS patients (p<0.01).
Both signals in the two variant model for MS affect CD25 expression on distinct subpopulations of CD4+ T cells, which are key cells in the autoimmune process.
The proposed procedure is illustrated on a multiple sclerosis (MS) family data set including genotypes of SNPs in IL2RA, confirming the advantage of using a family design to identify causal variants.
Although the possibility that IL2RA is a risk factor for MS development was not confirmed in this Japanese population, IL2RA gene polymorphisms were able to modify the disease activity in female MS patients, but had no influence on either susceptibility or disease phenotype in NMO/NMOSD patients.
Further characterization of the effect of IL2RA and IL7R genetic variants in defined MS subtypes is warranted to evaluate the effect of these genes on specific clinical outcomes and to further elucidate the mechanisms of disease onset and progression.
Flow cytometry was used to study the activation of CD4+ T cells and T cell subsets (CD25(high) and CD26(high) cells), monocytes and DCs in a cross-sectional study of 39 untreated and 29 GA-treated MS patients, the latter followed prospectively for one year.