RELAPSES IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: ROBUST T CELL RESPONSE BUT NOT SARS-COV-2-PEPTIDE REACTIVE T CELL RESPONSE REDUCES THE PRODUCTION OF A NEUROPROTECTIVE FACTOR

LAMAS, P.; REMOLINS, C.; VAZQUEZ, G.; APPIANI, F; MATAMOROS, K.; VALENZUELA, J.I.; MARTINEZ, A.; CURBELO, M.; PIROLA, D.; GUERRIERI, D.; BASILE, N.; CARRA, A.; CHULUYAN, E.

Congreso; REUNIÓN CONJUNTA SAIC SAI&FAIC SAFIS 2022; 2022

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease in which viruses play an important role in its development. Given some reports of MS relapses after the COVID-19 vaccination, there were concerns about its side effects and disease exacerbation. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is strongly upregulated in experimental models of MS and it is being considered a neuroprotective factor. Therefore, considering SLPI as a biomarker of susceptibility for relapses, we analyzed the production of SLPI in response to SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides or an unspecific T cell stimulator (Tcs) in MS patients (MSp) vaccinated against COVID-19. PMBCs were isolated from heathy donors (HD) and MSp. Cells were cultured with DMSO (control), polyclonal Tcs or immunogenic SARS CoV-2 S-peptide (Sp) for 5 days. Cell culture supernatants (CS) were harvested and SLPI was measured by ELISA. Also, serum SLPI and SARS-CoV2 IgG and IgM were quantified by ELISA. There were no differences between HD and MSp in serum levels of SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM. However, serum SLPI level was higher in MSp than in HD (p=0.028) and it is correlated with the levels of SLPI found in the CS of PBMCs treated with Tcs (r=0.638; p