title: Multiple sclerosis: circulating antigen-reactive lymphocytes.
abstract: Circulating lymphocyte populations were examined in 85 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), 26 of whom showed exacerbations; 48 patients with other neurological diseases (OND); 14 patients suffering from psychiatric disorders; and 2 normal subjects. The study involved the assay of early (active, high-affinity rosetting) T-cells, myelin basic protein (MBP)-reactive early T-cells, late (total, 24-hour rosetting) T-cell levels were significantly lower in MS (p less than 0.01) than in OND subjects. Exacerbations in MS were usually accompanied by further decreases in early T-cells. The lower levels of early T-cells in MS and their fluctuations are believed to reflect disease activity. MBP-reactive early T-cells were more frequently increased in MS (75% of cases) than OND (50%), and while this might be indicative of increased sensitization against myelin antigens, it was found not to be an MS-specific phenomenon.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000276:immunology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000276:immunology*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D004676:Myelin Basic Protein