Studies in mice indicate that immune cell subsets may promote inflammation in multiple sclerosis

A new study by researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College and New York Presbyterian Hospital in mice shows that a group of immune cells that prevent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract may be effective against multiple sclerosis (MS) and other brain inflammations.

Their findings were published in the journal Nature, entitled "Antigen-presenting Innate Lymphoid Cells Coordinating Neuroinflammation

"The pro-inflammatory T cells in the central nervous system (CNS) are causally related to multiple demyelination and neurodegenerative diseases, but the ways to control these responses are unclear

The researchers set their sights on a group of immune cells called ilc3, which are the key sentinels of the tissue balance barrier and respond quickly to injury, inflammation, and infection to restore tissue health

Researchers have discovered a unique subset of these ilc3s, which circulate in the blood, can penetrate into the brain, and surprisingly promote inflammation

"This work may help us understand and treat various conditions involving brain T cell infiltration

First author John Benji Grigg said: "The infiltration of these inflammatory ilc3 in the brain and spinal cord of mice is consistent with the onset and peak of the disease

Researchers found that they can prevent MS-like diseases in animals by removing a key molecule called MHCII from ilc3

"Although we have adopted the best treatment for multiple sclerosis, the patient's condition continues to deteriorate, and because the disease occurs early in life, they face the prospect of permanent physical and cognitive disability

Finally, the researchers discovered that ilc3, which is present in other tissues of the body, can actually be programmed to counteract the activity of T cells that infiltrate the brain, thereby preventing MS-like diseases in mice

The researchers concluded: “In general, our data defines the inflammatory ilc3 population, which is essential to directly promote T cell-dependent neuroinflammation in the central nervous system, and reveals the use of ilc3 in the surrounding tissues to prevent The potential for autoimmune diseases