Phenotype analysis of unstimulated lymphocytes and anti-CD3-stimulated proliferating T-cells from cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood in patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases.

In 15 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and in 11 patients with other neurological diseases (OND), the phenotype of fresh unstimulated CSF and PB mononuclear cells and of "in vitro" expanded T-cells was studied by monoclonal antibody stain and cytofluorimeter analysis. A compartment-specific decrease of CD8+Leu8+ and CD8+Leu8- cells in CSF was detected; moreover, lower levels of CD8+Leu8- cells were seen in MS than in OND patients, both in CSF and in PB. Although the percentages of unstimulated CSF CD4+ cells did not differ between MS and OND, a higher proportion of "in vitro" expanded CD4+ T-cells was obtained from MS patients than from OND. Among MS patients, T-cell growth was very scarce or absent in those sampled during relapses. The results suggest alterations both within the CD4+ "helper" and the CD8+ "suppressor-cytotoxic" populations in the CSF of MS patients, and stress the relevance of functional analysis in conjunction with phenotype studies.