The effects of dimethyl fumarate and fingolimod on T-cell lymphocyte proliferation in patients with multiple sclerosis

OBJECTIVE: The disease-modifying therapies (DMT), dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and fingolimod (FTY) improve the outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS) by reducing relapses and numbers and volume of lesions. They mediate their effects through reduction of immune reactivation, which may potentially lead to lymphopaenia and increased risk of infections. Previous studies have examined the effects of these therapies on lymphocyte subsets; however, the in vivo effects on circulating lymphocyte proliferation require further elucidation. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of DMF and FTY on T-cell proliferation in patients with MS. METHOD: We examined T-cell lymphocyte proliferation and lymphocyte subsets in ten patients (five on DMF, five on FTY) before starting DMT and again 4 to 11 months after being maintained on DMT. RESULTS: In the FTY-treated group, the mean percentage proliferation was significantly lower using both assays (PHA assay mean percentage change − 51.2 ± 25.97, p < 0.05; anti-CD3/CD28 assay mean percentage change − 39.74 ± 27.85, p < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in T-cell lymphocyte proliferation in the DMF-treated group for either assay (PHA, p = 0.316; anti-CD3/CD28, p = 0.373). CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study suggests that the T-lymphocytes of patients on FTY have an abnormal proliferation response as well as being reduced in the circulation.