Decreased autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction in multiple sclerosis.

The autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) measures the T-cell response to antigens on the surface of autologous non-T-cells. Studies have shown a decreased ability of T-cells to proliferate during the AMLR in a number of autoimmune and viral disorders. The AMLR was studied in 56 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a presumed autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, and the response was correlated with T-cell subsets. The AMLR was decreased in active MS patients (3 117 +/- 573 cpm) as compared to inactive patients (5 896 +/- 1 800 cpm) (P less than 0.05) and normal controls (7 782 +/- 1 725 cpm) (P less than 0.01). There was no significant difference between inactive patients and normal controls (P greater than 0.1). A more pronounced difference was also seen when patients with active disease associated with peripheral blood T4/T8 ratios greater than 3.0 (1 045 +/- 223 cpm) were compared with normal controls (P less than 0.01). In addition, MS patients with T4/T8 ratios of less than 1.0 had an increased AMLR (9 256 +/- 1 762 cmp) as compared to patients with either a high T4/T8 ratio (P less than 0.001) or normal ratio (P less than 0.05). Thus, multiple sclerosis patients with clinically active disease have a decreased AMLR which correlates with high T4/T8 ratios in a subgroup of patients.