The distribution of interleukin-2 receptor bearing lymphocytes in multiple sclerosis: evidence for a key role of activated lymphocytes.

Journal article

The identification of T cells in the brain using monoclonal antibodies has suggested a role for T cells in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). In the present study the monoclonal antibody anti-Tac, shown to react with interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptors expressed on activated T cells, was used to determine levels of recently activated T cells in blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain sections from MS patients at different stages of disease. The CSF of MS patients contained much higher numbers of IL-2 receptor positive lymphocytes (up to 67%) than blood cells from the same patients, or the CSF of patients with non-inflammatory neurological diseases. In histological sections of the brain of MS patients with active disease, perivascular lymphocytes expressing IL-2 receptors were detected, as were lymphocytes containing IL-2. In contrast, these were absent in brain sections from patients with chronic MS, secondary demyelination or from normal controls. These observations in CSF and brain suggest that in multiple sclerosis, T-cell activation is occurring within the CNS and not in peripheral lymphoid tissue.

Authors: Bellamy, A; Calder, V; Feldmann, M; Davison, A

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Clinical and experimental immunology
• Volume: 61
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 248-256
• Publication date: 1985-08-01
• EISSN: 1365-2249
• ISSN: 0009-9104
• Language: English
• Keywords: Brain; Leukocyte Count; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; Multiple Sclerosis; Receptors, Immunologic; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Receptors, Interleukin-2; Humans; Lymphocyte Activation; T-Lymphocytes