Multiple sclerosis in a patient with cryopyrin-associated autoinflammatory syndrome: Evidence that autoinflammation is the common link

Abstract

The co-existence of an autoinflammatory syndrome with a demyelinating disorder is a very rare occurrence raising the question whether there is a pathophysiological connection between them. We describe the case of a man with symptoms of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) since infancy who later developed multiple sclerosis (MS). As CAPS was genetically confirmed, the inhibition of interleukin-1 (IL-1) with anakinra led to a swift resolution of the CAPS symptoms and also, in combination with teriflunomide, to a clinical and imaging improvement of MS. In vitro studies showed that, upon a CAPS flare, the patient's peripheral neutrophils released neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) decorated with IL-1β, while NET release was markedly decreased following anakinra-induced remission of CAPS. Taking into account the growing evidence on the involvement of IL-1β in experimental models of MS, this rare patient case suggests that the role of neutrophils/NETs and IL-1β in MS should be further studied.