title: Complementary contribution of CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes to T-cell infiltration of the intact and the degenerative spinal cord.
abstract: The central role of T cells in inflammatory reactions of the central nervous system (CNS) is well documented. However, there is little information about the few T cells found within the noninflamed CNS. In particular, the contribution of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to the lymphocyte pool infiltrating the intact CNS, the location of these cells in CNS white and gray matter, and changes in the cellular composition of T-cell infiltrates coinciding with degeneration are primarily undefined. To address these points, we studied T cells in the intact and degenerative rat spinal cord. In the intact spinal cord, T cells were preferentially located within the gray matter. CD8+ T cells were more numerous than CD4+ lymphocytes. In cases of neuroaxonal degeneration or myelin degeneration/oligodendrocyte death, T cells were predominantly seen in areas of degeneration and were present in increased numbers. These effects were more pronounced for the CD4+ than for the CD8+ T-cell subset. Collectively, these data provide evidence for a clear cellular and compartmental bias in T-cell infiltration of the intact and degenerative spinal cord. This could indicate that CD4+ and CD8+ T cells might fulfill complementary roles in the intact and the diseased organ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroimmunology, Brain Research Institute, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 4, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. monika.bradl@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bradl
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flügel
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wekerle
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lassmann
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D018991:Myelin Proteolipid Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000473:pathology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D018991:Myelin Proteolipid Protein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C489071:Plp1 protein, rat