Lymphocyte adherence to myelinated tissue in multiple sclerosis: correlation with disease activity

Human peripheral blood T-lymphocytes adhere to myelinated sections of human and nonhuman brain tissue. No lymphocyte adherence is seen to gray matter. Lymphocytes from patients with MS adhere more than control lymphocytes. Lymphocyte adherence in patients with stable MS and in healthy controls did not vary more than 15%. Lymphocyte adherence in MS patients was decreased significantly during exacerbation. Values rose to pre-exacerbation levels in remissions. Results suggest that T cells that adhere to myelin may migrate from the peripheral blood during exacerbation.