V-DELTA-1 GENE USAGE, INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTORS AND ADHESION MOLECULES ON GAMMA-DELTA(-CELLS IN INFLAMMATORY DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS-SYSTEM()T)

This study investigates the expression of T cell receptor V delta 1 ch ain, interleukin-2 receptor alpha-chain (CD25) and adhesion molecules ICAM-1 (CD54), LFA-1 (CD11a/18) and CD44 on gamma delta(+) T cells by three-color flow cytometry on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood cell s in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), other inflammatory neurolo gical diseases (OIND) and other neurological diseases (OND). Of gamma delta(+) T cells in CSF and blood, 20-40% belonged to the 'epithelial' V delta 1 subtype. MS patients had the lowest levels in both CSF and blood, but the differences between the patient groups were not signifi cant. The activation markers CD25 and CD54 were expressed by only a sm all proportion of gamma delta(+) T cells and in a minority of patients . Although the occurrence of CD25(+) and CD54(+) gamma delta(+) T cell s was somewhat higher in CSF than in blood and in inflammatory disease s than in controls, the small numbers of CD25(+) and CD54(+) gamma del ta(+) T cells preclude establishing differences amongst compartments a nd patient groups. The adhesion molecules CD11a/18 and CD44 were const itutively expressed on all T cells. Therefore, we compared the relativ e antigen density per cell as measured by the relative fluorescence in dex (RFI) between CSF and blood, between the patient groups and betwee n gamma delta(+) and total T cells. The only difference encountered wa s a slightly higher expression of adhesion molecules on gamma delta(+) compared to total T cells, with preference to MS patients. In conclus ion, the V delta 1(+) subtype of gamma delta(+) T cells does not domin ate in the CSF compartment. A slight upregulation of adhesion molecule CD11a/18 and CD44 expression on gamma delta(+) T cells may facilitate their binding to endothelia in the brain.