NK Cell: Monitoring natural killer cells in multiple sclerosis patients treated with Fingolimod

Study Description:
The aim of this study was to monitor the effect of Fingolimod (Gilenya®) in the treatment of MS on natural killer (NK) cells, a subcohort of blood-derived immune cells. Although Fingolimod/Gilenya® is well established in the treatment of MS it is still not entirely clear how this drug impacts the immune system of MS patients. NK cells are crucial in the inborn immune defense. Additionally, it has recently become clear, that NK cells play an important role in the regulation of the adaptive immune system and in the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases like MS. Therefore, better understanding of the impact of Fingolimod/Gilenya® on NK cells is important.

Participation in this clinical study was possible for both male and female patients with relapsing-remitting MS, aged 18-65, with a medical indication for treatment with Fingolimod/Gilenya®. Study duration was 12 months for every participant with 6 individual on site visits. Treatment with Fingolimod/Gilenya® was continued after the study.

Principle Investigator: Dr. Jan Dörr (Clinical Neuroimmunology, NCRC)

Registration: This study is registered in the database clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01790269).

Course of the study: 09/2013 - 08/2018

Publication:
Schwichtenberg, S. C., A. Wisgalla, M. Schroeder-Castagno, C. Alvarez-Gonzalez, S. Schlickeiser, N. Siebert, J. Bellmann-Strobl, K. D. Wernecke, F. Paul, J. Dorr, and C. Infante-Duarte. "Fingolimod Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis Leads to the Enrichment of a Subpopulation of Aged Nk Cells." Neurotherapeutics  (Jul 9 2021). https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13311-021-01078-7.