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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Adult, Aged, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Female, Flow Cytometry, Forkhead Transcription Factors, Gene Expression, Glucocorticoids, Humans, Interleukin-10, Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit, Interleukin-6, Lymphocyte Count, Male, Methylprednisolone, Middle Aged, Multiple Sclerosis, Polymerase Chain Reaction, T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory.
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Do glucocorticoids increase CD4CD25 cell percentage and Foxp3 expression in patients with multiple sclerosis? Context: To determine whether percentages of CD4(+)CD25(high) T cells (a group of regulatory T cells, Treg) differ in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in relapse vs remission after glucocorticoid treatment and whether treatment for relapses changes Treg population and the expression of Foxp3, a key Treg-associated molecule. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained from 20 patients with MS during relapse, just before and 2 days after starting steroid treatment (i.v. methylprednisolone 1 g/day for 3 days) and then 6 weeks after treatment. CD4(+)CD25(hi) cells were analysed by using flow cytometry. Cytokines were measured by using an ELISA and Foxp3, CD3 and CD25 expression by using quantitative real-time PCR. The percentage of CD4(+)CD25(hi) cells, plasma IL-10 and Foxp3/CD3 ratio increased 48 h after methylprednisolone initiation and returned to baseline values by 6 weeks post-treatment.
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Results suggest that glucocorticoids increase Treg cell functional molecules and percentages. This may be a mechanism whereby steroids expedite recovery from MS relapses. Final Decision: yes