Possible pathomechanism of multiple sclerosis from the perspective of abnormal mucosal immune responses

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The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) and Crohn's disease have increased since 1960s in Japan. The 'hygiene hypothesis' has been proposed for immunopathogenesis of MS. The distinct population of double negative T cells (DNT) expressing IL-17 was identified in patients with MS. As most of DNT cells are composed of innate T cells including γδT cells and IL-17-expressing cells are most abundant at steady state in gut-associated tissues, we suspect that the production of IL-17 derived from mucosal associated cells including not only T_H-17 per se but also innate T cells might be critical elements contributing to MS.