Altered frequency of T regulatory cells is associated with disability status in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients

A perturbed immunoregulation may be part of the pathogenesis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). In this study, we demonstrate a dichotomy within the frequency of Treg among newly diagnosed RRMS patients but not in healthy controls. A group of RRMS patients was characterized by a significantly lower percentage of Treg cells than that of their matched, healthy controls, and this was inversely correlated with their score on the expanded disability status scale (EDSS). Since the EDSS reflected severity of the last attack, this study demonstrates a correlation between low frequency of Treg and severity of clinical disease in RRMS. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.