title: Natural killer cell activity in patients with multiple sclerosis: interferon and plasmapheresis.
abstract: Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were studied for natural killer (NK) cell activity and reactivity to interferon. NK activity determined at the same time in a 4-hr chromium-51 release assay using K562 target cells was significantly lower in MS patients than in controls. In-vitro treatment of MS lymphocytes with interferon resulted in only a slight increase in NK activity, while NK activity of normal individuals was markedly augmented by interferon. Leukopheresis of MS patients gave a rapid decrease in cytotoxic activity, which returned to pretreatment levels by 24 hrs. These results are consistent with the hypothesis of an immune deficit in multiple sclerosis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D010956:Plasmapheresis
chemical_list: D007372:Interferons