Analysis of Lymphocyte Subsets of Peripheral Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid in Relapse Phase of Multiple Sclerosis

To analysis the changes of lymphocyte subsets in active phase and after methylprednisolone (MP) treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS),the percentage of CD3 +,CD4 +,CD8 +,CD45RA +,CD4 +/CD45RA +,CD4 +/CD29 +,CD19 +,CD5 +/CD19 + lymphocytes were investigated in peripheral blood (PB) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by flow cytometry from 26 patients with relapse phase MS and 22 age-,sex-match controls The results showed that the percentage of CD8 +,CD45RA + and CD4 +/CD45RA + of PB were significantly decreased in MS patients than in controls;the percentage of CD4 +/CD29 + and CD4 +/CD8 + ratio were higher compared with controls In MS patient s,a significant increase percentage of CD3 +,CD4 +,CD4 +/CD29 + and CD4 +/CD8 + ratio were found in CSF comparison with in PB There was no significant correlation between the phenotype of lymphocyte subsets and clinical expanded disability scale score (EDSS),time of onset of clinical relapse After MP treatment,lymphocyte subsets did not significantly changed Our observations support the notion that lymphocytes selectively pass the blood-brain barrier in MS patient,and the changes of lymphocyte subsets involve in pathogenesis of MS -