Biomaterial Database

Loss of functional suppression is linked to decreases in circulating suppressor inducer (CD4+ 2H4+) T cells in multiple sclerosis. 1988

M Chofflon, and H L Weiner, and C Morimoto, and D A Hafler

Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115.

A consistent immunological finding in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis is a loss of functional suppression. We have recently found decreases in suppressor inducer T cells in progressive multiple sclerosis as measured by two-color immunofluorescence using differentiation markers CD4 and 2H4. In the present study, we examined the relationship between functional suppression and circulating CD4+ 2H4+ T cells using a two-stage assay. (1) T cells were stimulated for 7 days with irradiated non-T cells (autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction [AMLR]) and harvested. It has previously been shown that suppressor T cells are generated during the course of the AMLR. (2) The AMLR-generated suppressor T cells were then incubated with mononuclear cells plus pokeweed mitogen, and immunoglobulin (Ig) synthesis was measured. There was less AMLR-induced suppression of IgG synthesis in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis as compared with normal subjects and patients with other neurological diseases. More importantly, there were significant correlations between decreases in circulating CD4+ 2H4+ cells and the AMLR (p = 0.009). Thus, the decreases in functional suppression and the decreases in the AMLR in multiple sclerosis appear tightly linked to CD4+ 2H4+ cells, and their measurement provides a means to monitor suppressor function phenotypically. Decreases in suppressor inducer T cells may in part explain immunoregulatory abnormalities observed in multiple sclerosis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007109	Immunity	Nonsusceptibility to the invasive or pathogenic effects of foreign microorganisms or to the toxic effect of antigenic substances.	Immune Process,Immune Response,Immune Processes,Immune Responses,Process, Immune,Response, Immune
D009103	Multiple Sclerosis	An autoimmune disorder mainly affecting young adults and characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. Pathologic findings include multiple sharply demarcated areas of demyelination throughout the white matter of the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction. The usual pattern is one of recurrent attacks followed by partial recovery (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, RELAPSING-REMITTING), but acute fulminating and chronic progressive forms (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE) also occur. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p903)	MS (Multiple Sclerosis),Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating,Sclerosis, Disseminated,Disseminated Sclerosis,Sclerosis, Multiple
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001681	Biological Assay	A method of measuring the effects of a biologically active substance using an intermediate in vivo or in vitro tissue or cell model under controlled conditions. It includes virulence studies in animal fetuses in utero, mouse convulsion bioassay of insulin, quantitation of tumor-initiator systems in mouse skin, calculation of potentiating effects of a hormonal factor in an isolated strip of contracting stomach muscle, etc.	Bioassay,Assay, Biological,Assays, Biological,Biologic Assay,Biologic Assays,Assay, Biologic,Assays, Biologic,Bioassays,Biological Assays
D050378	T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory	CD4-positive T cells that inhibit immunopathology or autoimmune disease in vivo. They inhibit the immune response by influencing the activity of other cell types. Regulatory T-cells include naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ cells, IL-10 secreting Tr1 cells, and Th3 cells.	Regulatory T Cell,Regulatory T-Cell,Regulatory T-Lymphocyte,Regulatory T-Lymphocytes,Suppressor T-Lymphocytes, Naturally-Occurring,T-Cells, Regulatory,Th3 Cells,Tr1 Cell,Treg Cell,Regulatory T-Cells,Suppressor T-Cells, Naturally-Occurring,Tr1 Cells,Treg Cells,Cell, Regulatory T,Cell, Th3,Cell, Tr1,Cell, Treg,Cells, Regulatory T,Cells, Th3,Cells, Tr1,Cells, Treg,Naturally-Occurring Suppressor T-Cell,Naturally-Occurring Suppressor T-Cells,Naturally-Occurring Suppressor T-Lymphocyte,Naturally-Occurring Suppressor T-Lymphocytes,Regulatory T Cells,Regulatory T Lymphocyte,Regulatory T Lymphocytes,Suppressor T Cells, Naturally Occurring,Suppressor T Lymphocytes, Naturally Occurring,Suppressor T-Cell, Naturally-Occurring,Suppressor T-Lymphocyte, Naturally-Occurring,T Cell, Regulatory,T Cells, Regulatory,T Lymphocytes, Regulatory,T-Cell, Naturally-Occurring Suppressor,T-Cells, Naturally-Occurring Suppressor,T-Lymphocyte, Regulatory,Th3 Cell