title: Progressive multiple sclerosis: abnormal immune functions in vitro and aberrant correlation with enumeration of lymphocyte subpopulations.
abstract: In a series of 27 consecutive progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients under age 50 we have simultaneously measured 3 in vitro immune functions and 6 markers and compared their results to a group of 21 controls. We have confirmed a reduction of concanavalin A (Con A) -induced suppression and NK function contrasting with increased IgG secretion in response to pokeweed mitogen (PWM). Among 6 monoclonal antibody-recognized subpopulation (Leu 1, Leu 2, OKT8, Leu 3, Leu 7 and Leu 11) only Leu 2+ lymphocytes were statistically reduced. OKT8+ were slightly reduced, Leu 3+ were slightly increased. Discriminant analysis revealed that the 3 immune functions together with the results of OKT8 and Leu 3 enumeration were sufficient to appropriately classify most of the individuals. Only 3 MS and 4 controls were misclassified. Correlation analysis suggested disappearance of the doubly labelled OKT8/Leu 7 population in MS patients. In MS as opposed to controls Con A-induced suppression did not correlate with suppressor cell markers but correlated with NK cell markers suggesting that in MS this population mediates Con A-induced suppression. IgG secretion and Con A suppressor cell function were inversely correlated in MS patients but not in controls, suggesting that in chronic progressive multiple sclerosis a common abnormality underlies both increased response to PWM and decreased induction of suppression by Con A.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007074:Immunoglobulin G