A role of the adhesive properties of leucocytes and blood serum in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis

: Adhesive properties of leucocytes were studied using an original technique based on the leukocyte adherence inhibition reaction and measuring the values of spontaneous adhesion index (SAI) and adhesion-strengthening effect (ASE) under the influence of autoserum. One hundred patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 53 controls were included in the study. Immunophenotyping of lymphocytes (LP) with monoclonal antibodies--markers CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16, CD20, CD25, HLA-DR and CD95--and determination of IgG, IgA, IgM and content of immune complexes were carried out in parallel. The increase of adhesion parameters (ASE and SAI) was found in MS. It was most significant in patients with primary progressive course and in disease exacerbation. The greatest changes of phenotypic LP content were associated with debut and exacerbation-remission periods. Significant positive correlations between higher SAI values and phenotypes CD20, CD95, HLA-DR and amount of natural killer cells were revealed in patients with MS in contrast to the negative correlations of SAI with CD3 and CD4 in the control group. A role of membrane and soluble forms of adhesion molecules in the initiation and progression of immunopathological process in MS is discussed.