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A numerical reduction of total T cells has been evidenced in peripheral blood of patients with active multiple sclerosis. A contemporary raise in T helper/inducer cells was demonstrated in patients' cerebrospinal fluid. A significant reduction in T suppressor/cytotoxic cells could be detected only in patients' cerebrospinal fluid, while this subpopulation resulted to be less affected in patients' circulation. These data differed significantly from controls' values. We conclude that a redistribution of some T cell subpopulation between peripheral blood and central nervous system could account for the immunological derangements observed in active multiple sclerosis.

We are investigating peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid lymphocyte subpopulations in multiple sclerosis patients by monoclonal antibodies directed at T-helper, T-suppressor and total mature T-cell subsets. Patients affected by other neurological diseases are also being studied as a control population. Antibodies' selectivity together with careful cell handling, allowed us a detailed study even of small lymphocyte numbers usually recovered from multiple sclerosis cerebrospinal fluid. First results point to a marked increase in T-helper population, with a helper/suppressor imbalance in MS patients' cerebrospinal fluid, but not in peripheral blood. No difference could be detected between cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations in control patients. Further work is now needed to achieve more complete and significative results.