The 2H4 (CD45R) antigen is selectively decreased in multiple sclerosis lesions.

To analyze expression of the 2H4 (CD45R) Ag on inflammatory cells in the central nervous system immune response, immunohistochemical staining with a panel of anti-T cell mAb was performed on central nervous system tissues from 12 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 8 patients with viral encephalitis. Only rare cells were stained with anti-2H4 in MS plaques, plaque edges, and adjacent white matter, whereas 2H4+ cells were more numerous in viral encephalitis (p less than 0.001). By contrast, no quantitative differences were found between MS plaque edges and viral encephalitis with anti-4B4 (helper-inducer function associated), anti-CD4, anti-CD3, and anti-IL-2R mAb, although there were fewer CD8+ cells in MS (p less than 0.01). These data indicate that the 2H4 Ag is selectively decreased and, because it is associated with suppressor-inducer function of CD4+ cells, that there may be a defect in the down-regulation of the in situ immune response in MS.