T lymphocyte subsets in the CSF in various stages of MS

Immunologic changes within the central nervous system may be more accurately reflected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) than in peripheral blood lymphocytes. There are increasing data about the functional difference of early (active), and avid lymphocytes, but their true nature is not yet clear1. Some results indicate the suppressor nature of avid cells2, while others stressed that T-helper cells bind more avidly to sheep red blood cells1. Traugott and coworkers3 showed in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) that active or high affinity T-cells decrease dramatically in the periphery with disease activity, and that early T cells are not suppressor cells4. Most authors found an increased T-cell number, a decreased active and avid T cell population in active and also in chronic progressive MS cases. The up-to-date results concerning the active, avid and late total lymphocyte populations are summarized in Table 1.