Single cell RNA analysis reveals the complex heterogeneity of CD4+ T cells in chronic neuroinflammation

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a severe chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that leads to disability in young adults. T lymphocytes are a key component of lesion pathology throughout the disease course. Here we used the animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) to conduct an unbiased characterization of CD4+ T cells in acute and chronic EAE. We identified five distinct CNS CD4+ T cell populations, of which three have not yet been characterized in EAE: innate-like CD4+ T cells (Ccl5, Gzmk, NKG7), tissue resident memory T cells (Cxcr6, Bhlhe40) and lymphoid-tissue like T cells (Klf2, S1pr1, Sell).