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T cell subsets in peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid from children with aseptic meningitis
Insights
In aseptic meningitis, T cells (CD4+ and CD8+) infiltrate the cerebrospinal fluid, with distinct changes observed during acute and recovery phases. This suggests localized immune responses within the central nervous system.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Aseptic meningitis involves inflammation of the meninges without bacterial infection.
- Understanding the role of T cell subsets in the central nervous system (CNS) is crucial for diagnosing and treating meningitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamics of T cell subsets in peripheral blood (PB) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during aseptic meningitis.
- To differentiate the roles of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the acute and recovery phases of the disease.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative two-color fluorescence analysis using flow cytometry.
- Analysis of T cell subsets (HLA-DR+/CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) in PB and CSF samples from patients with aseptic meningitis.
Main Results:
- Activated T cells (HLA-DR+/CD3+) significantly increased in CSF during the recovery phase compared to the acute phase.
- CSF CD4+ T cells were elevated in the acute phase and decreased in the recovery phase.
- CSF CD8+ T cells accumulated during the recovery phase, leading to a decreased CD4/CD8 ratio, while PB ratios remained stable.
Conclusions:
- T lymphocytes, specifically CD4+ in the acute phase and CD8+ in the recovery phase, likely infiltrate and activate within the CNS (subarachnoid space) during aseptic meningitis.
- These findings highlight compartmentalized immune responses in the CNS during aseptic meningitis.
Abstract:
T cell subsets in peripheral blood (PB) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained from patients with aseptic meningitis were studied using quantitative two-color fluorescence analysis with a flow cytometer. The percentage of HLA-DR+/CD3+ lymphocytes (activated T cells) in CSF was significantly increased in the recovery phase when compared to the acute phase, while no significant change in the activated T cells in PB was observed. More interestingly, CD4+ T lymphocytes in CSF were increased in the acute phase and subsequently decreased in the recovery phase. Instead, CD8+ T lymphocytes gradually accumulated into the CSF in the recovery phase, resulting in a successive decrease in the CD4/CD8 ratio. On the other hand, the CD4/CD8 ratio in PB remained normal during the course of aseptic meningitis. The present results suggest that T lymphocytes (CD4+ subset in the acute phase and CD8+ in the recovery phase) could be infiltrated and further activated at the site of inflammation, possibly in the subarachnoid space in the patients with aseptic meningitis.