A CD8+ NK cell transcriptomic signature associated with clinical outcome in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis

Eoin F. McKinney (), Iona Cuthbertson, Kristina M. Harris, Dawn E. Smilek, Christopher Connor, Giulia Manferrari, Edward J. Carr, Scott S. Zamvil and Kenneth G. C. Smith
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Eoin F. McKinney: Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre
Iona Cuthbertson: University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine
Kristina M. Harris: ITN
Dawn E. Smilek: ITN
Christopher Connor: University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine
Giulia Manferrari: University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine
Edward J. Carr: University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine
Scott S. Zamvil: University of California
Kenneth G. C. Smith: Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with the majority of cases characterised by relapsing/remitting (RRMS) attacks of neurologic dysfunction followed by variable resolution. Improving clinical outcomes in RRMS requires both a better understanding of the immunological mechanisms driving recurrent demyelination and better means of predicting future disease course to facilitate early targeted therapy. Here, we apply hypothesis-generating network transcriptomics to CD8+ cells isolated from patients in RRMS, identifying a signature reflecting expansion of a subset of CD8+ natural killer cells (NK8+) associated with favourable outcome. NK8+ are capable of regulating CD4+ T cell activation and proliferation in vitro, with reduced expression of HLA-G binding inhibitory receptors and consequent reduced sensitivity to HLA-G-mediated suppression. We identify surrogate markers of the NK8+ signature in peripheral blood leucocytes and validate their association with clinical outcome in an independent cohort, suggesting their measurement may facilitate early, targeted therapy in RRMS.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20594-2

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