[Decrease of Leu7 positive cells in peripheral blood from patients with aseptic meningitis].
In order to clarify the role of natural killer cell in the central nervous system (CNS) infection, we examined Leu7 positive cells in peripheral blood of aseptic meningitis by flow cytometry. We studied 10 patients with aseptic meningitis (5 echo virus type 6 and 5 suspected viral meningitis). Also 3 patients with Japanese encephalitis, 3 with fungal meningitis, each one with bacterial meningitis, tuberculous meningitis and brainstem encephalitis were analyzed. Blood samples of acute phase and after recovery were obtained by the first examination on admission and the latest examination after normalization of cerebrospinal fluid findings, respectively. All aseptic meningitis patients showed decrease of Leu7 positive cells in acute phase (mean +/- SD = 6.8 +/- 3.12%, from 3 to 25 days of illness) and continued after recovery (8.3 +/- 4.27%, from 35 to 503 days of illness) in all but one. The number of the cells found in the aseptic meningitis patients during the acute phase and after recovery was significantly lower than in normal subjects (p less than 0.01). The change did not differ statistically between the acute phase and post recovery. The date suggest that decreased Leu7 positive cells is present before infection. As concerning other CNS infections, the positive cells decreased from acute phase to after recovery in two Japanese encephalitis and one tuberculous patients. But because of small number, it was not decided whether the decrease significantly was low value or not. Since natural killer cells is related to defence mechanism of viral infection in acute phase, it seems that low natural killer activity may develop the viral infection. Therefore the date raises the possibility that the people who has originally less the natural killer cells tend to be susceptible, as far as viral meningitis.
Department of Neurology, St. Mary's Hospital.
Y
Y
Honda
Y
Y
Sato
Y
Y
Sato
M
M
Shingu
M
M
Kaji
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000276:immunology*; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018959:CD57 Antigens