CD4 and neuromyelitis optica: Based on the Bcl-2-mediated dual purpose of inhibiting apoptosis and autophagy (Sasi et al., 2009; Scarfò and Ghia, 2013), this accumulation of CD4+ T cells indicates that Bcl-2 might play a critical role in anti-apoptosis and anti-autophagy by modulating the permeability of the mitochondria in NMO patients.