T Cell Profiling in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

The goal of this research study is to to learn more about the body's immune response in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In MS, the body's immune cells mistakenly attack an important part of the nerves of the brain and spinal cord. The immune cells responsible for attacking the nerves in MS patients is primarily the T cells. A marker was recently discovered that might specifically identify these damaging T cells from all other T cells in the body. Understanding which T cells cause the damage in MS patients and understanding more about these specific T cells may help doctors better understand how MS occurs and could possibly prevent MS in the future.