Interferon-alpha significantly reduces cerebrospinal fluid CD4 cell subsets in HAM/TSP

J Neuroimmunol. 2003 Aug;141(1-2):170-3. doi: 10.1016/s0165-5728(03)00219-4.

Abstract

We, for the first time, analyzed T cell and natural killer (NK) cell subsets in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in nine patients with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) treated with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). The CD4/CD8 ratio in CSF was significantly lower after the therapy, which is mainly attributable to the significant reduction in CD4+ cells, especially CD25+CD4 and CD45RO+CD4 cell subsets. Meanwhile, NK, natural T and NKT cell subsets in the CSF remained unchanged. There was no CSF lymphocyte subset significantly associated with the clinical efficacy of IFN-alpha in this small-scale study, and more patients should be analyzed to ascertain the link.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • CD4-CD8 Ratio
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • Down-Regulation / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intramuscular
  • Interferon-alpha / pharmacology*
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects
  • Killer Cells, Natural / pathology
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Lymphocyte Depletion / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / blood
  • Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / drug therapy
  • Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology

Substances

  • Interferon-alpha