Flow cytometric differentiation of Asian and Western types of multiple sclerosis, HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP)and hyperIgEaemic myelitis by analyses of memory CD4 positive T cell subsets and NK cell subsets

We examined the alterations of memory CD4(+) T cell subsets bearing surface receptors linked to either Th1 or Th2 cytokine production as well as natur al killer (NK) cell subsets by three color flow cytometry in the peripheral blood from 36 patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS), 2 7 patients with HAM/TSP, 13 patients with hyperIgEaemic myelitis who had mi te antigen-specific IgE and 25 healthy controls (HC). The patients with MS were clinically classified into an optico-spinal form of MS (Asian type, MS -A) and the conventional form of MS (Western type, MS-W). MS-A showed a sig nificant increase of CD4(+)CD45RA(-)CCR5(+) cells (Th1 cells) through the r elapse and remission phases in comparison to HC, while MS-W showed a signif icant increase of CD4(+)CD45RO(+)CD62L(-) cells (Th1 cells) only at the rel apse phase. HAM/TSP showed a significant increase of CCR5(+) and CD62L(-) m emory CD4(+) T cells as well as CD30(+) memory CD4(+) T cells (Th2 cells) i n comparison to HC. On the other hand, a selective increase of CD4(+)CD45RO (+)CD30(+) cells was found in hyperIgEaemic myelitis. The percentage of mat ure NK cells (CD3(-)CD16(+)CD56(+) cells) as well as double negative T cell s (CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-) cells) decreased significantly in HAM/TSP in comparis on to HC. Our findings therefore suggest a flow cytometric analysis of Th1/ Th2-associated markers on memory CD4(+) T cells as well as NK cell subsets to be useful for differentiating various inflammatory neurologic conditions . (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.