Circulating CD8(+)CD56(-)perforin(+) T cells are increased in multiple sclerosis patients

Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), secondary progressive (SP)MS and primary progressive (PP)MS patients showed higher percentages of circulating CD8(+)CD56(-)perforin(+) T cells than controls whereas only relapsing RRMS and PPMS patients showed higher perforin expression in CD8(+)CD56(-) T cells than controls. MS patients with EDSS >= 3 showed higher percentage of CD8(+)CD56(-)perforin(+) T cells than patients with EDSS <3 and controls whereas patients with EDSS <3 showed higher percentage of this T cell subpopulation than controls. Our data show that MS is characterized by a dysregulation of CD8(+)CD56(-)perforin(+) T cells that may play a role in the development of disability. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.