Never began

The goal of this research study is to to learn more about the body's immune response in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In MS, the body's immune cells mistakenly attack an important part of the nerves of the brain and spinal cord. The immune cells responsible for attacking the nerves in MS patients is primarily the T cells. A marker was recently discovered that might specifically identify these damaging T cells from all other T cells in the body. Understanding which T cells cause the damage in MS patients and understanding more about these specific T cells may help doctors better understand how MS occurs and could possibly prevent MS in the future.

MS Group Inclusion criteria

-diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and present to the neurology clinic for a regular checkup or are admitted to the inpatient floor with acute symptoms.

Exclusion criteria

• Have an active infection
• Take T cell modulating drugs

Control Group Inclusion criteria -scheduled for elective surgery

• without any immunological diseases. Exclusion criteria
• Have an active infection.

Patients with Multiple Sclerosis who present to Boston Children's Hospital will be enrolled. A group of healthy control patients who present for elective surgery at Boston Children's Hospital will also be enrolled.