Dual response of lymphocytes from multiple sclerosis patients to myelin basic protein

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from forty-nine patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), twelve patients with other neurological diseases and twenty-seven healthy individuals were examined by a two-stage procedure based on the Con A stimulation of the basic protein (BP) pre-treated lymphocytes. Enhanced BP-induced blastogenic stimulation (BS) (90--220% was observed in MS individual classified as active (A-MS), whereas suppressed BS (27--120%) was observed in MS patients classified as non-active (NA-MS). The difference was statistically significant (P less than 0.01). The results obtained with the MS patients' lymphocytes also differed significantly (P less than 0.05) from those of the two control groups. Either response obtained with MS lymphocytes could be elicited with a similar concentration of BP. The enhanced or suppressed response to BP did not correlate with the cellular response to common antigens such as candida and streptokinase-streptodornase. Most lymphocytes of individuals from the two control groups showed BS values of 100 +/- 20% in response to BP. However, some degree of stimulation or suppression was also obtained with lymphocytes from a few individuals of both control groups. The potential value and application of the two-stage procedure is discussed.