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Immune-reactive cells in multiple sclerosis mucosal secretions
Neurology
|March 1, 1989
Summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients exhibit increased inflammatory cells in external secretions like tears and saliva. This suggests mucosal inflammation may contribute to T lymphocyte activation and brain entry in MS.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- External secretions in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients display immunoglobulin abnormalities.
- These abnormalities suggest underlying mucosal inflammation in MS patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and types of free-floating inflammatory cells in external secretions of MS patients.
- To compare inflammatory cell counts in tears and parotid saliva between MS patients and normal subjects.
Main Methods:
- Collection of tears and parotid saliva from ten normal subjects and ten MS patients.
- Analysis of secretions for inflammatory cells including lymphocytes, macrophages, and plasma cells.
- Utilizing an immunobead rosette technique to characterize lymphocyte populations, specifically T lymphocytes.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher numbers of lymphocytes, macrophages, and plasma cells were found in MS patient secretions compared to normal subjects.
- Most lymphocytes in secretions were null cells, but T lymphocytes were elevated in clinically active MS patients.
Conclusions:
- External secretions of MS patients contain increased inflammatory cells, indicating mucosal inflammation.
- Activated T lymphocytes from mucosal surfaces may migrate to the central nervous system in MS.