title: Decrease of CD4+CD45+ T-cells in chronic-progressive multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Circulating lymphocyte subpopulations defined by anti-CD45 and other more common T-cell-specific monoclonal antibodies were analysed in 77 patients with multiple sclerosis and 38 healthy controls. A selective decrease of CD4+CD45+ cell percentages and absolute numbers in chronic-progressive patients was found; in 13 out of 26 patients this subpopulation was less than 11% CD4+CD45+ cells. Similarly, the whole CD45+ cell subset, as well as CD45+ cells expressed as percentages of CD4+ cells, were significantly reduced in chronic-progressive multiple sclerosis. CD4+CD45+ cells, commonly termed "inducer of suppression" T-lymphocytes, did not correlate with percentages or numbers of CD8+ cells. It is concluded that suppressor inducer T-cells act on the CD8+ subset function rather than reducing CD8+ cell numbers. Since CD4+CD45+ cells represent an early stage of lymphocyte maturation (naive T-cells), an under-representation of this subpopulation in active multiple sclerosis might reflect an increased conversion of naive cells into memory cells. This concept may be relevant for a better understanding of the disease pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Centro Studi Sclerosis Multipla, Universita di Milano, Ospedale S. Antonio Abate, Gallarate, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaffaroni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghezzi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parma
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cazzullo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal