title: NK activity and NK-like non-specific cytolysis after PPD, rubella and measles antigen stimulation in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Blood samples were collected from 14 pairs of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and from age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was tested against the K562 cell line on the day of collection and again after 3 days in vitro culture with medium or with purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD), inactivated rubella virus or inactivated measles virus antigen. Lymphocytes from MS patients had a lower spontaneous cytotoxic activity compared to the controls both on the day of collection (P less than 0.025) and after 3 days in culture with medium alone (P less than 0.025). The activity decreased during in vitro culture in both groups, but the decrease was greater among MS patients (P less than 0.05). In cultures with antigens, a strong increase of NK-like cell-mediated cytolysis (NK-like CMC) was noted especially in cultures stimulated with PPD. There were no significant differences in the increase of the activity among MS patients and control subjects. A significant correlation between the increase of NK-like CMC and the lymphocyte blast transformation response induced by each antigen was found.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D014373:Tuberculin