LYMPHOCYTE SUBSETS IN RELAPSING-REMITTING MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF B-LYMPHOCYTES AND T-LYMPHOCYTES

Changes in lymphocyte subset populations may provide clues to the dysi mmune mechanisms involved in relapsing, remitting multiple sclerosis ( RRMS). The lymphocyte subsgroup CD4(+)D45RA(+) thought to be responsib le for the induction of suppression is decreased in some patients with MS compared to controls. A possible role for another lymphocyte subse t, CD19(+)CD5(+) lymphocytes, has been proposed in autoimmune diseases and multiple sclerosis (MS). To expand this we studied CD4(+)CD4SRA() (T) lymphocytes and CD19(+)CD5(+) (B) lymphocytes in nine patients w ith relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and nine controls. The patients were examined monthly for an average of ten months and nine relapses were observed in seven patients. One patient underwent monthly gadolinium e nhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Normal percentages CD4(+)CD4 5RA(+) lymphocytes were found in patients with RRMS. No significant ab normalities in the CD19(+)CD5(+) lymphocyte subpopulation were noted, although a tendency for higher percentages of this subset (approaching statistical significance, P = 0.056) was detected.