Search

The study of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cells in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been closely linked to progress in the field of general immunology. In the mid-70s, with the advent of the idea that MS was an immunologically-mediated disease (or, at least, that an immunological process was at the basis of its pathogenesis), there was a sudden fluorishing of research on CSF cells. In those years, immunological methods used to distinguish B from T lymphocytes were applied to CSF cells, in order to establish the relative percentage of T and B lymphocyte subsets. The challenge was to find some numerical or functional abnormality to explain the high production of IgG in MS CSF.

The CD45R (2H4) and CDw29 (4B4) molecules are probably involved in the regulation of immunological memory: CD45R functionally defines naive or virgin cells (prior to activation by exposure to antigen), while CDw29 characterizes previously activated (memory) cells. By means of two-colour fluorescence analysis, we studied CD4 and CD8, CD45R and CD4 and CD8 CDw29 cells from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 27 acute (MSa), and 10 stable (MSs) multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. We also compared 17 patients affected with various non-inflammatory (OND) diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). The most striking finding was the increased percentage of CD4+CD29-, CD4+CD45R- and CD8+CD45R- cells and the decreased percentage of CD4-CDw29+ and CD8- CDw29+ subsets in MSa patients compared to OND and MSs populations. These data suggest a decrease in memory cells (CDw29+) during the acute phase of MS. The modulation of CDw29 receptor could play a role in the genesis of acute MS attacks.

Lymphocyte subpopulations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood (PB) were studied using monoclonal antibodies and the common membrane markers. The results in three groups of patients were compared: 36 subjects with 'non-immunological disorders' (NID), 14 subjects with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 6 with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). It was found that, in patients with NID, (1) 90% of cells were T lymphocytes, reactive with OKT3; (2) the helper/suppressor (T4/T8) ratios were the same in the CSF and the PB; (3) the OKIa1 percentage was lower in the CSF than in the PB; and (4) only a few cells were 'immature', reacting with OKT10. Using the membrane markers (E rosettes, Fc IgG receptors and surface immunoglobulins), on the other hand, it was noted that the majority of cells in the CSF were identified as suppressor T lymphocytes and surface immunoglobulin-positive B cells were less common than the Ia1 marker suggested. There were no significant differences between the CSF results in patients with NID and MS but the OKT3 lymphocytes were reduced in CSF samples from patients with SSPE.

Surface markers of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cells have been studied in comparison with those of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The great majority (about 95%) of CSF cells bear surface markers of thymus-dependent lymphocytes (E rosettes with uncoated sheep red blood cells), while being devoid of bone-marrow derived cell markers (EAC rosettes with complement-coated red blood cells). In contrast with lymphocytes from peripheral blood, CSF cells form predominantly 'early' and 'sphere'-shaped E rosettes, and bear receptors for the complement-fixing segment of immunoglobulins G. Treatment with concentrated CSF does not affect rosette forming ability of peripheral blood lymphocytes.