Cellular Response to Basic Protein and T Suppressor Cells in Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and two control groups, patients with neurologic diseases other than MS and healthy individuals, were examined for their cellular response to basic protein (BP), suppressor cell activity elicited by concanavalin A (ConA) and enumeration of T gamma cells. Lymphocytes from patients with active and chronic progressive MS showed the highest blastogenic stimulation in response to BP, the lowest ConA-induced suppression and the lowest absolute and relative number of T gamma cells. Lymphocytes from patients with nonactive or slowly progressive MS showed BP blastogenic stimulation similar to or slightly higher than that of the control groups. The ConA suppressor activity and the absolute and relative number of T gamma cells in the nonactive MS group were within normal ranges. The results indicate that although hypersensitivity to BP may be accompanied by deficient immunoregulatory activity, there is no pattern in the sequence of events. In addition, in some instances, changes in the immunoregulatory cells occurred with little or no effect on the cellular response to the neural antigen.

Cell-Mediated Immune Functions in Multiple Sclerosis

“…The T gamma level reportedly fluctuates with disease activity; decreasing prior to relapse and rising above normal levels during early remission [Huddlestone et al, 1979[Huddlestone et al, , 1982Traugott et al, 1982;Wicher and Holub, 1982], Several groups have reported in creased T gamma levels in chronic progres sive disease [Santoli et al, 1978;Goust et al, 1980;Merrill et al, 1980;Traugott et al, 1982], Additionally, Merrill et al [1980] found increased T gamma level during at tacks.…”

“…For example, measles-virus-in duced blastogenesis has been reported to be equal in MS and control lymphocytes [Dau and Peterson, 1970;Knowles and Saunders, 1970;Cunningham-Rundles et al, 1977;Ste wart et al, 1977;Symington and MacKay, 1978]. In other studies, the response of MS lymphocytes to measles virus was weaker than that of control lymphocytes [McFar land and McFarlin, 1979;Illonen et al, 1981;Sagar et al, 1981] and further studies have shown that MS lymphocytes responded more strongly than control lymphocytes [Walker and Cook, 1979;Walker et al, 1982], Reports involving blast transformation to neural antigens also reveal many inconsis tencies, however, the majority of reports sug gest that MS lymphocytes react to MBP [Colby et al, 1977;Gosseye-Lissoir et al, 1977;Hughes et al, 1977;Lisak and Zwei man, 1977;Lisak et al, 1981;Wicher et al, 1981;Wicher and Holub, 1982;Frick, 1982] as well as cerebrosides and gangliosides [Offner and Konat, 1980;Frick, 1982]. Al though lymphocytes from MS patients are more reactive to these neural antigens than those of healthy control individuals, the magnitude of this response is very limited (stimulation indexes < 3).…”