DECREASE IN MEMORY (CDW29-HIGH) CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID CELLS FROM ACUTE MS PATIENTS

The CD45R (2H4) and CDw29 (4B4) molecules are probably involved in the regulation of immunological memory: CD45R functionally defines naive or virgin cells (prior to activation by exposure to antigen), while CDw29 characterizes previously activated (memory) cells. By means of two-colour fluorescence analysis, we studied CD4 and CD8, CD45R and CD4 and CD8 CDw29 cells from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 27 acute (MSa), and 10 stable (MSs) multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. We also compared 17 patients affected with various non-inflammatory (OND) diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). The most striking finding was the increased percentage of CD4 + CD29 -, CD4 + CD45R - and CD8 + CD45R - cells and the decreased percentage of CD4 - CDw29 + and CD8 - CDw29 + subsets in MSa patients compared to OND and MSs populations. These data suggest a decrease in memory cells (CDw29 +) during the acute phase of MS. The modulation of CDw29 receptor could play a role in the genesis of acute MS attacks.