ArticleBMC neurology2023
Role of the immune system in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Analysis of the natural killer cells and other circulating lymphocytes in a cohort of ALS patients.
Article in BMC neurology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.
- Lineage-specific immune checkpoint dynamics define a context-dependent regulatory framework with translational relevance in human γδ T cells.Journal of translational medicine · 2026Article
- Clonal CD8 T cells link peripheral and intrathecal immunity in ALS4 progression: a multiomics reference for ALS.Research square · 2026Article
- The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis and Nutritional Interventions in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Pathophysiological Mechanisms, Neuroinflammation, and Non-Motor Manifestations-Scoping Review.Pathophysiology : the official journal of the International Society for Pathophysiology · 2026Review
- Integrated single-cell and spatial transcriptomic profiling in ALS uncovers peripheral-to-central immune infiltration and reprogramming.Nature neuroscience · 2026Article
- Coevolution of NK and Tumor Cell States Along Multiple Myeloma Progression from Precursor Conditions.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- White Blood Cells in Neurodegenerative Diseases in the Context of Neuroinflammation.Molecular neurobiology · 2025Review
- Peripheral immune patterns enable robust cross-platform prediction of ALS onset and progression.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2025Article
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and drug related sarcoid-like reaction.BMC neurology · 2025Article
- Engineering neuroimmune regulation: biomaterial and nanotechnology platforms for neuropathology diagnosis and targeted immunomodulation.Frontiers in immunology · 2025Review
- Unlocking amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: the role of adiponectin in inflammation and disease progression.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Article
- The Scientific and Therapeutic Rationale for Off-Label Treatments in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.Annals of neurology · 2024Review
- Human CD4+CD25+ T cells expressing a chimeric antigen receptor against aberrant superoxide dismutase 1 trigger antigen-specific immunomodulation.Cytotherapy · 2024Article
- Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
aimsNeuroinflammation might be involved in the degeneration and progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Here, we studied the role of the circulating lymphocytes in ALS, in particular the NK cells. We focused on the relationship between blood lymphocytes, ALS clinical subtype and disease severity. SUBJECTS AND
methodsBlood samples were collected from 92 patients with sporadic ALS, 21 patients with Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS) and 37 patients affected by primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) with inactive plaques. Blood was taken from ALS and controls at the time of diagnosis/referral. Circulating lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry with specific antibodies. Values were expressed as absolute number (n°/µl) of viable lymphocytes subpopulations in ALS were compared with controls. Multivariable analysis was made using site of onset, gender changes in ALSFRS-R and disease progression rate (calculated as ΔFS score).
resultsAge at onset was 65y (58-71) in ALS (spinal 67.4%; bulbar, 32.6%), 57y (48-78) in PLS and 56y (44-68) PPMS. Absolute blood levels of the lymphocytes in the different cohorts were within normal range. Furthermore, while levels of lymphocytes T and B were not different between disease groups, NK cells were increased in the ALS cohort (ALS = 236 [158-360] vs. Controls = 174[113-240], p < 0.001). In ALS, blood levels of NK cells were not related with the main clinical-demographic variables, including the rate of disease progression. Multivariable analysis suggested that male gender and bulbar onset were independently associated with a risk of high blood NK cells levels.
conclusionsWe show that blood NK cells are selectively increased in ALS, though their level appear unaffected in patients with an estimated rapidly progressing disease. Being of a male gender and with a bulbar onset seems to confer higher susceptibility to have increased NK lymphocytes levels at diagnosis/referral. Our experiments provides a further clear-cut evidence of the role of the NK lymphocytes as a significant player in ALS pathogenesis.
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