Stimulation of active E-rosette forming lymphocytes from multiple sclerosis patients by gangliosides and cerebrosides.

An active subpopulation of blood T-lymphocytes, characterized by rapid (4 min) rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes was measured in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, other neurological diseases (OND) and healthy subjects after 15 min incubation with low doses (0.1-5 pg) of brain cerebrosides and gangliosides. A 15% rise in the active E-rosettes after incubation with antigens was indicative of a response to given antigen. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from all 35 patients with MS responded to brain cerebrosides in the active E-rosette test (AER). Lymphocytes from 33 MS patients also responded to brain gangliosides. Three out of 26 other neurological patients were stimulated by cerebrosides and gangliosides. Fifteen healthy subjects did not respond to any antigen in the AER test. The significance of the results in relation to the process of demyelination is discussed.