T-lymphocyte subpopulation levels and immunoglobulin changes in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neurologic disorders.
Immunologic mechanisms are thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). In this study we examined cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of 29 patients with MS and of 24 patients with other neurological disorders. An elevated T-helper (Th)/T-suppressor (Ts) ratio was typical for the CSF of patients with MS. There was a clear positive correlation between the percentage of Th cells and the existence of oligoclonal bands in the CSF. On the other hand, the percentage of Ts cells correlated negatively with the existence of oligoclonal bands in the CSF. The imbalance of CSF T-lymphocyte subpopulations may be one of the fundamental defects in MS, and the observed alterations in CSF immunoglobulin synthesis pattern might only reflect these changes.
D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology
D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G