CD4+ lymphocyte subsets in the cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis and non-inflammatory neurological diseases

J Neurol. 1991 Jul;238(4):209-11. doi: 10.1007/BF00314782.

Abstract

We studied paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood (PB) samples from 18 inactive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and 10 with non-inflammatory neurological diseases. By means of a dual-colour cytofluorimetric micromethod we were able to count 1500 cells on average in each CSF sample. We found a significant reduction of CD45RA+ and CD4+CD45RA+ cells in the CSF of MS patients. Similarly, CD45RA+ and CD4+CD45RA+ CSF/PB ratios were lower compared with controls. The reduction of suppressor-inducer T-cells did not correlate with CD8+ cell levels in the CSF. The CD4+ subset ratio (CD4+CD45RA-/CD4+CD45RA+) was significantly increased in the CSF of MS patients. Our data suggest that the reduction of CD4+CD45RA+ cells in the PB is not due to a segregation of such cells in the CSF. Conversely, CSF changes reflect changes in the PB similar to these found for other T-cell subsets.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antigens, CD / analysis
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology
  • Nervous System Diseases / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Nervous System Diseases / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / pathology
  • Up-Regulation / physiology

Substances

  • Antigens, CD