Effects of a Short Physical Exercise Intervention on Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Background: The aim of this prospective randomized controlled trial was to investigate if a short-term endurance or combined endurance/resistance exercise program was sufficient to improve aerobic capacity and maximum force in adult patients (18–65 years) with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: All patients performed a three-month exercise program consisting of two training sessions per week, lasting 40 min each, with moderate intensity. All patients had a maximum value of 6 (low to moderate disability) on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). One group (combined workout group (CWG); 15 females, 4 males) completed a combined endurance/resistance workout (20 min on a bicycle ergometer, followed by 20 min of resistance training), while the other group (endurance workout group (EWG); 13 females, 5 males) completed a 40 min endurance training program. Aerobic capacity was assessed as peak oxygen uptake, ventilatory anaerobic threshold, and workload expressed as Watts. Maximum force of knee and shoulder extensors and flexors was measured using isokinetic testing. Quality of life was assessed with the SF-36 questionnaire, and fatigue was measured using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale. Results: Both training groups increased in aerobic capacity and maximum force. EWG, as well as CWG, showed improvement in several subscales of the SF-36 questionnaire and decrease of their fatigue. Conclusion: A short exercise intervention increased both aerobic capacity and maximum force independent of whether endurance or combined endurance/resistance workouts were performed

Modulation of cytokine patterns of human autoreactive T cell clones by a single amino acid substitution of their peptide ligand

AbstractWe demonstrate that cognate peptide ligands altered at T call receptor (TCR) contact residues and bound to class II major histocompetability complex can change the cytokine pattern of mature T cell clones. Myelin basic protein peptide 85–99-reactive Th0 T cell clones were stimulated with altered peptide ligands, which acted both as TCR antagonist and induced new mRNA synthesis and protein secretion of TGF-β1, while no longer inducing mRNA synthesis or protein secretion of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IFNγ. The modified peptides failed to induce a detectable calcium flux, p58lck activation, or thymidine Incorporation, yet triggered nearly equal amounts of IL-4 secretion in the presence of ion-omycin. Antigen-induced modulation of T cell cytokine secretion may be important in regulating the immune response

Grazing-associated infochemicals induce colony formation in the green alga Scenedesmus

In this study we demonstrate a new form of immunoregulation: engagement on CD4(+) T cells of the complement regulator CD46 promoted the effector potential of T helper type 1 cells (T(H)1 cells), but as interleukin 2 (IL-2) accumulated, it switched cells toward a regulatory phenotype, attenuating IL-2 production via the transcriptional regulator ICER/CREM and upregulating IL-10 after interaction of the CD46 tail with the serine-threonine kinase SPAK. Activated CD4(+) T cells produced CD46 ligands, and blocking CD46 inhibited IL-10 production. Furthermore, CD4(+) T cells in rheumatoid arthritis failed to switch, consequently producing excessive interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Finally, γδ T cells, which rarely produce IL-10, expressed an alternative CD46 isoform and were unable to switch. Nonetheless, coengagement of T cell antigen receptor (TCR) γδ and CD46 suppressed effector cytokine production, establishing that CD46 uses distinct mechanisms to regulate different T cell subsets during an immune response