Accordingly, our recent comparative analysis between MS and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), raises a new possibility that ectopic expression of eomesodermin (Eomes) in helper T (Th) cells constitutes a previously unappreciated subset of Th cells with cytotoxic potential against neuronal cells.
CD56+ cells and other subsets expressed lower levels of Eomes or T-bet protein and/or were under-represented in MS. EOMES and TBX21 risk SNP genotypes, and serum EBNA-1 titres were not correlated with ET expression, but HLA-DRB1*1501 genotype was.
Strikingly, similar Eomes(+) CD4(+) T cells are increased in the peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid from patients in a progressive state of multiple sclerosis.
Expression of the transcription factors (TF) controlling T and NK cell differentiation, EOMES, TBX21 and other TFs was significantly lower in MS/CIS compared to healthy controls in all three cohorts.