CD8-mediated inflammatory central nervous system disorders.

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW:

In central nervous system (CNS) autoimmune disorders, CD8+ T cells have been reported to exert cytotoxic as well as regulatory functions. In virus-induced (meningo) encephalitis, they are essential for viral clearance, but can also cause severe immunopathology. This review aims to summarize the multifaceted roles CD8+ T cells can play in inflammatory CNS disorders.

RECENT FINDINGS:

Recent evidence for a role of CD8+ T cells in multiple sclerosis comes from genetic association studies confirming a protective effect of the HLA-A0201 allele. Besides their dominance in white matter lesions, CD8+ T cells contribute to immune infiltrates in cortical demyelinating lesions. Having infiltrated the CNS, CD8+ T cells migrate along an inflammation-induced fibrous network. Although CD8+ T cells are generally considered to be crucial for acute viral clearance, they can also induce autoimmune-like immunopathology by, for example, encountering a virus in adulthood while being at the same time latently infected by a related virus. Inadequate control of latent viruses under immunosuppressive treatments or immunodeficiencies is becoming increasingly important in neurology clinical work.

SUMMARY:

Future research should aim at identifying the specificity and functional phenotype of brain-infiltrating CD8+ T cells in autoimmune diseases and viral immunopathology in order to develop therapeutic strategies specifically targeting CNS-relevant immune reactions.

• Authors: Anne Willing, Manuel A Friese
• Journal: Current opinion in neurology (Curr Opin Neurol) Vol. 25 Issue 3 Pg. 316-21 (Jun 2012) ISSN: 1473-6551 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22547102 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System (immunology)
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (physiology)
• Cell Differentiation
• Cell Movement
• Central Nervous System Diseases (complications, immunology, pathology, virology)
• Humans