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Reduction of circulating suppressor inducer T lymphocytes in the exacerbation phase of remitting-relapse multiple

A Cafaro1, M Spadaro, F Pandolfi

  • 1Cattedra di Allergologia ed Immunologia Clinica, Università La Sapienza, Roma.

Rivista Di Neurologia
|May 1, 1987
PubMed

Insights

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients showed decreased suppressor inducer cells during exacerbation and reduced CD8+ cells during remission. Increased CD25+ lymphocytes were observed in both phases of the relapsing-remitting MS form.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system.
  • Understanding immune cell dynamics in different MS disease courses is crucial for therapeutic development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the changes in specific lymphocyte subsets in patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) and chronic progressive (CP) multiple sclerosis.
  • To correlate these changes with disease activity, specifically exacerbation and remission phases in RRMS.

Main Methods:

  • Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were analyzed from 34 MS patients (8 CP, 26 RR).
  • Flow cytometry was used with monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25, and Leu-8.
  • The suppressor inducer subset (CD4+CD25+CD69+ or CD4+Leu-8+) was specifically evaluated.

Main Results:

  • A significant decrease in the suppressor inducer subset was observed during the exacerbation phase of RRMS.
  • A significant reduction in CD8+ (suppressor/cytotoxic) cells was noted during the remission phase of RRMS.
  • CD25+ lymphocytes showed a significant increase in both exacerbation and remission phases of RRMS.

Conclusions:

  • The study identifies distinct alterations in immune cell populations during different phases of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
  • These findings suggest a role for suppressor inducer cells and CD8+ T cells in MS immunopathogenesis and disease course.
  • The increase in CD25+ lymphocytes indicates ongoing immune activation in RRMS.

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