M. Saresella et al., EVIDENCE FOR A MISSED SIGNAL TO THE CD8(-SCLEROSIS PATIENTS() CELLS IN CSF OF MULTIPLE), Italian journal of neurological sciences, 16(7), 1995, pp. 479-485
Peripheral blood (PB) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lymphocyte subpopu
lations, defined by various T-cell specific monoclonal antibodies and
flow cytometry, were analysed in 44 relapsing remitting multiple scler
osis (RRMS) patients (including 21 subjects in the acute phase and 23
in the stable phase), 40 chronic-progressive multiple sclerosis (CPMS)
patients, and 24 patients with other neurological diseases (OND), in
order to verify the presence of any abnormality in the lymphocyte subs
et pattern. A significant increase in the total number of T-Lymphocyte
s and the CD4(+) subpopulation was found in the PB of the MS patients
in comparison with the OND group. Moreover, a not statistically signif
icant increase in CD4(+) cells was observed in the CSF of MS patients.
A statistically significant increase was also found in the CD4(+) Leu
8(+) (suppressor inducer) cells in the CSF of all of the MS groups. F
inally, the CD8(+) (suppressor/cytotoxic) cell levels, were significan
tly lower in the CSF of CPMS and stable RMS patients than in the CSF o
f the OND patients. As a whole, our data suggest that the immunosuppre
ssive deficit that seems to be a constant finding in MS is not due to
a decrease in suppressor inducer cell levels, as previously suggested,
but may be caused by a missed or altered signal from the suppressor i
nducer to CD8(+) suppressor cells.