title: Macrophage populations associated with multiple sclerosis plaques.
abstract: The macrophage population within and outside plaques from eight cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) (two clinically acute, four chronic progressive and two chronic non-progressive) has been examined in fresh frozen sections with a panel of monoclonal antibodies of macrophage, monocyte and MHC class II specificity. The majority of cells in active, hypercellular plaques, and at active borders, reacted with macrophage- and class II MHC-specific antibodies, and such cells extended beyond the border between demyelinated and myelinated parenchyma. In inactive plaques such cells that reacted with macrophage-specific antibodies were sparse and reacted only inconstantly with class II MHC-specific antibodies. Macrophage heterogeneity was evident in as much as one macrophage antibody, RFD7, reacted only with perivascular and not parenchymal macrophages in most plaques, but reacted with a variable proportion of parenchymal macrophages in active plaques. It is suggested that the RFD7 antibody may identify a sub-population of acute plaques, and that its use may clarify interpretation of findings related to other inflammatory cell populations by providing greater precision of classification of active plaques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropathology, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Esiri
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Reading
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal