EFFECT OF HIGH-DOSE STEROID-THERAPY ON T-CELL SUBPOPULATIONS - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY IN MS PATIENTS

Lymphocyte subpopulations, T cell activation antigens, and serum level s of interleukin 2 (IL-2) and soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL2R), were stud ied in relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS) patients before and after high-d ose steroid therapy. Prior to therapy, a minority of patients showed i ncreased HLA-DR antigen expression, and an increased number of CD16+ a nd CD19+ cells. Steroid treatment induced a significant increase in HL A-DR and CD19 expression, a significant reduction in CD16+, CD57+, and CD8+CD57+ cells, and a slight, non-significant, decrease in IL-2 and sIL-2R levels and CD25 expression on CD4+ T lymphocytes.