Except for C-C chemokine receptor 7 expression, monocyte-derived dendritic cells from patients with multiple sclerosis are functionally comparable to those of healthy controls

BACKGROUND AIMS: Dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy has shown potential to counteract autoimmunity in multiple sclerosis (MS).

METHODS: We compared the phenotype and T-cell stimulatory capacity of in vitro generated monocyte-derived DC from MS patients with those from healthy controls.

RESULTS: Except for an increase in the number of C-C chemokine receptor 7-expressing DC from MS patients, no major differences were found between groups in the expression of maturation-associated membrane markers or in the in vitro capacity to stimulate autologous T cells.

CONCLUSIONS: Our observations may pave the way for the development of patient-tailored DC-based vaccination strategies to treat MS.