MX treatment leads to a persistent reduction of B cells and enrichment of neutrophils and CD8^low T cells.

<p>Peripheral blood samples from SPMS patients were surface stained for CD16, CD19, CD14, CD3, CD4, and CD8. (A) A representative flow cytometry dot plot shows the gating strategy for leucocytic populations: R1, comprising all cells without the debris and R2, representing the lymphocytes. Representative flow cytometry plots showing MX-induced changes over time in neutrophils, B cells and CD8^low T cells. (B) The T helper cell (CD4+), the cytotoxic T cell (CD8^high), and the monocyte (CD14+) populations did not change over time. (C) The B cell (CD19+) population decreased significantly after six months and 12 months of treatment. The cytotoxic T cell (CD8^low) population increased significantly after six months and 12 months of treatment, and the neutrophil (CD16+) population was enriched after 12 months of treatment. (D) Comparison of frequencies of B cells, CD8^low cells and neutrophils before and after treatment and in patients with stable MS and healthy individuals. B cell levels presented no difference. CD8^low T cell levels after 12 months of treatment were normalized to healthy controls levels. Neutrophil levels after 12 months of treatment were increased compared to the controls. Repeated-measures ANOVA *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001; One-way ANOVA #p<0.05; ###p<0.001. FSC, forward scatter; SSC, side scatter; mth, months.