T-cell-mediated suppression of Epstein-Barr virus-induced B lymphocyte activation in multiple sclerosis.

Significantly reduced levels of T-cell-mediated "suppression" of numbers of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-activated B lymphocytes which secrete IgG or IgM were found in preparations of mononuclear cells (MNC) from peripheral blood of 28 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared with 28 healthy subjects, all seropositive for EBV. A statistically significant correlation was not found between the suppression of EBV-induced activation of B lymphocytes and either EBV-specific T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity or numbers of T8-positive cells.