title: Age-associated T-lymphocyte activation through mitogens in patients with multiple sclerosis and blood donors.
abstract: In 128 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 204 blood donors (control persons) the in vitro activation of 'Ficoll-purified' peripheral blood T lymphocytes was measured using the 3H-thymidine incorporation rate without (spontaneous proliferation) and with mitogen addition (concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin). Mitogen responsiveness in control persons and MS patients decreased with age, reflecting a T-lymphocyte inherent mechanism for the diminution of responsiveness. The MS patients, ranging in age between 20 and 30 years, showed decreased mitogen responsiveness and a tendency to increased spontaneous proliferation compared to the control persons. These results could be an expression of a viral infection.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Virology and Immunology, University Hospital, Essen, FRG.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trenn
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kreuzfelder
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hierholzer
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Scheiermann
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bushart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D001782:Blood Donors; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013936:Thymidine