MI2025 – Kar Min Loh

Title:
Innate Lymphoid Cells in Autoimmune Demyelinating Diseases: Insights into Post-Infectious Pathology

Abstract:
Autoimmune demyelinating diseases (AIDD) of the nervous system, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), are characterized by immune-mediated destruction of the myelin sheath, leading to impaired neural transmission and a range of neurological symptoms such as visual disturbances, motor dysfunction, and cognitive decline. AIDD is widely recognized to be driven by genetic susceptibility and environmental factors, particularly infectious agents. Notable pathogens include bacteria such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as viruses including herpesviruses and human endogenous retroviruses. These infections may disrupt immune tolerance and induce long-term changes in immune surveillance, contributing to autoimmunity through mechanisms such as chronic immune activation and molecular mimicry. Immune dysregulation following infections may extend beyond lymphocyte responses to affect other immune compartments, including the less well-explored but important innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). Our study showed an increased percentage of ILC1 in active MS and ILC2 during remission using flow cytometric analysis, indicating dynamic, disease-phase-specific shifts in ILC subsets. Functional assays showed that ILCs from MS patients produced higher levels of IFNγ and IL-17A upon stimulation, suggesting functional reprogramming in the disease environment. These findings provide insights into the innate immune contributions to AIDD pathogenesis, potentially revealing shared and distinct immunological pathways linked to post-infection immune dysregulation.

Biography:
I am a PhD student at the Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. My research focuses on the role of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in autoimmune demyelinating diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. I study shifts in the frequency, cytokine production, and gene expression profiles of ILC subsets in patient blood samples, with an emphasis on differences between active and remission phases. Through this work, I aim to uncover phase-specific immune signatures and identify novel biomarkers for disease monitoring and therapeutic intervention.