T-cell subsets in spinal fluid of multiple sclerosis patients.

CSF T-cells and T-cell subsets were characterized by monoclonal antibodies in 15 untreated multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, 17 immunosuppressed chronic progressive MS patients and 9 patients with other neurological diseases. A negative correlation was found between total cell numbers and T suppressor cell percentages in untreated and treated MS patients. A negative correlation (r = -0.71) was found between intrathecal IgG levels and T suppressor cell percentages in untreated MS patients. In peripheral blood, no correlation between T-cells and T-cell subsets with IgG levels was found. It is discussed that T-cell subsets and intrathecal IgG levels may be indicators of the activity of the inflammatory process in the brains of chronic progressive MS patients.