Towards Cloning of Lymphoid Cells from Cerebrospinal Fluid

There is little doubt that T cells occur within the sites of inflammatory reactions seen in the central nervous system (CNS) of MS patients. Most probably, there is a relation between lesions of the CNS and the composition of CSF. Indeed, the evidence for involvement of the immune system in the etiology of MS stems from findings on the CSF: the CSF of MS patients has been found to contain IgG of restricted heterogeneity, most of which is synthesized within the CSF (Link, 1967). Moreover, the CSF of MS patients contains lymphoid cells. Many of the T cells present appear to be activated (Noronha et al., 1980).