Phenotyping analysis of peripheral blood leukocytes in patients with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous disease thought to be elicited by an autoimmune process, Many studies in recent years have concentrated o n finding the alterations in the peripheral blood immune profile in MS pati ents that would reflect disease activity. In the present study, we investig ated surface antigen expression on lymphocytes and granulocytes from MS pat ients and control subjects. We have studied 29 patients suffering from rela psing-remitting or relapsing-progressive forms of MS. The disease was diagn osed in all patients at least 12 months before inclusion into the study. Al l patients had no attack at the study entry date or within a previous month . The control group included 29 age-matched subjects. Phenotyping of periph eral blood leukocytes was carried out with different fluorescence-conjugate d murine monoclonal antibodies. The analysis was performed with three-color flow cytometry. The following antigens were determined [cluster of definit ion (CD)]: leukocyte common antigen (LCA) (B220, T 200, Ly-5), CD45; LPS-R (lipopolysaccharide receptor), CD14; found on all T cells, CD3; LFA-2 (lymp hocyte function associated antigen, T 11), CD2; coreceptor for MHC class II molecules, found on helper T cells, CD4; coreceptor for MHC class I molecu les, found on suppressor/cytotoxic T cells, CD8; B4, found on all human B c ells, CD19; NCAM (neural cell adhesion molecule), CD56; integrin beta 2 sub unit, associated with CD11a (CD11a/CD18, LFA-1, alpha L beta 2) and CD11b ( CD11b/CD18, Mac-1, CR3, alpha M beta 2), CD18; alpha L, alpha subunit of in tegrin LFA-1 (alpha L beta 2, CD11a/CD18), CD11a; alpha M, alpha subunit of integrin Mac-1 (CR3, alpha M beta 2, CD11b/CD18), CD11b; ICAM-1 (intercell ular adhesion molecule), CD54; H-CAM, Hermes antigen, Pgp-1, CD44; AIM (act ivation inducer molecule), early activation antigen, CD69; T-cell receptor gamma delta, TCR gamma delta. In the MS group, we have found a significant increased expression of CD54 and CD44 antigens on lymphocytes, and higher p ercentage CD54(+) and CD11a(+)CD54(+) lymphocytes out of all lymphocytes co mpared with the control group. We have also found a significant increased e xpression of CD11a, CD18 and CD54 antigens on granulocytes, and higher perc entage CD11b(+)CD18(+) granulocytes out of all granulocytes in MS patients compared with control. Higher levels of expression of the adhesion molecule s may reflect the activation state of leukocytes in MS patients. Eur J Neur ol 6:347-352 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.