Lymphocyte subset numbers in cerebrospinal fluid: comparison of tick-borne encephalitis and neuroborreliosis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyze lymphocyte subset numbers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and acute neuroborreliosis.


METHODS
CSF lymphocyte subsets were enumerated in 42 TBE and nine neuroborreliosis patients using flow cytometry.


RESULTS
The CSF numbers of CD4+, CD8+, HLA-DR+ and total-T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and NK cells were all greater in neuroborreliosis patients than in TBE patients. Neuroborreliosis patients showed positive correlation of CSF protein levels with the numbers of CD4+, HLA-DR+ and total-T lymphocytes. Also, the numbers of CSF B lymphocytes correlated positively with intrathecal Borrelia burgdorferi-specific IgG antibodies. Conversely, TBE patients demonstrated intrathecal protein levels that correlated positively with all investigated CSF lymphocyte subsets.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest an intensive recruitment of lymphocyte subsets into the central nervous system (CNS) during acute neuroborreliosis, whereas TBE is characterized by a lower accumulation of lymphocyte subsets in the CSF.
Holub
M
M
Charles University, Prague, First Faculty of Medicine, 3rd Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Czech Republic. holub@wadsworth.org
Klucková
Z
Z
Beran
O
O
Aster
V
V
Lobovská
A
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D002648:Child; D004675:Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020852:Lyme Neuroborreliosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies