Multiple sclerosis (MS), is a chronic inflammatory disease of central nervous system with unclear etiology. Relapsing-remitting (RR)-MS is the most frequent subtype of disease. Natural Killer (NK) cells have roles in cytotoxicity and immune regulation by cytokine secretions, with uncertain contribution to MS pathogenesis. This study aimed to explore contribution of NK cells to MS pathogenesis. Percentages of CD3⁻CD16⁺CD56⁺ total NK cells, CD3⁻CD16⁺CD56^dim and CD3⁻CD16⁻CD56^bright NK cell subsets, NK cytotoxicity and intracellular IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-22 levels were investigated in patients with RR-MS and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) as well as healthy subjects. Decreased IFN-γ and increased IL-22 production might have detrimental effects on the clinical course of RR-MS. Impaired cytotoxicity is correlated with disease duration in RR-MS. These findings support the possible contribution of NK cells to RR-MS immuno-pathogenesis.

多发性硬化症（MS）是一种中枢神经系统的慢性炎症性疾病，病因尚不清楚。复发缓解型（RR）-MS是最常见的疾病亚型。天然杀伤（NK）细胞在细胞毒性和细胞因子分泌的免疫调节中具有作用，对MS发病机理的贡献不确定。这项研究旨在探讨NK细胞对MS发病机制的贡献。CD3 ⁻ CD16 ⁺ CD56 ⁺ NK细胞总数，CD3 ⁻ CD16 ⁺ CD56^暗和CD3 ⁻ CD16 ⁻ CD56^亮的百分比研究了RR-MS和临床孤立综合征（CIS）患者以及健康受试者的NK细胞亚群，NK细胞毒性和细胞内IFN-γ，IL-10和IL-22水平。IFN-γ的减少和IL-22产生的增加可能对RR-MS的临床过程有不利影响。细胞毒性受损与RR-MS中的疾病持续时间相关。这些发现支持了NK细胞对RR-MS免疫发病机制的可能贡献。