Monoclonal antibody analysis of blood T-cell subsets in multiple sclerosis

The present study deals with the characterization of peripheral blood T-cell subpopulations in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients during different stages of the disease. An indirect immunofluorescence assay was performed using monoclonal antibodies directed at lymphocyte surface antigens. Patients in exacerbation were found to have significantly (p < 0.001) reduced OKT₈+ (T-suppressor) cells and a high helper/suppressor ratio (p < 0.001).Patients in remission showed a significant increase of suppressor T-cells compared to controls (p < 0.02) and patients during relapse (p < 0.001); H/S ratio was consequently low compared to acute MS (p < 0.001) and controls (p < 0.1). Patients with a progressive course showed an intermediate T-subset pattern. The results are discussed in the light of the most recent neuroimmunological approaches to MS.This study was supported by the C.N.R. grant n. 83/00635.52