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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
09:00
Analysis of Lymphocyte Extravasation Using an In Vitro Model of the Human Blood-brain Barrier
Published on: April 5, 2017
Lymphocyte adherence to myelinated tissue in multiple sclerosis
The Journal of Clinical Investigation
|October 1, 1980
Summary
Certain T lymphocytes bind to brain tissue, with increased binding observed in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Monocytes normally inhibit this binding, but this function is impaired in MS patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Cellular Immunology
Background:
- A subset of T lymphocytes exhibits selective adherence to myelinated brain tissue.
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the adherence properties of T lymphocytes and monocytes in relation to myelinated brain tissue.
- To compare these adherence functions between patients with multiple sclerosis and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of human peripheral blood T lymphocytes and monocytes.
- Assay for lymphocyte adherence to myelinated brain tissue sections.
- Assessment of monocyte-mediated inhibition of lymphocyte binding.
Main Results:
- A subpopulation of T lymphocytes demonstrated selective binding to myelinated brain tissue.
- Significantly greater lymphocyte adherence was observed in patients with multiple sclerosis compared to controls.
- Monocytes from healthy controls inhibited lymphocyte binding, whereas this inhibitory function was lost in monocytes from MS patients.
Conclusions:
- T lymphocytes from MS patients show enhanced adherence to myelinated brain tissue.
- Impaired monocyte inhibitory function contributes to altered lymphocyte-brain interactions in multiple sclerosis.
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