Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
9943380 | The American Journal of Pathology | 2005 | 10 Pages |
Abstract
The central role of T cells in inflammatory reactions of the central nervous system (CNS) is well documented. However, there is little information about the few T cells found within the noninflamed CNS. In particular, the contribution of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to the lymphocyte pool infiltrating the intact CNS, the location of these cells in CNS white and gray matter, and changes in the cellular composition of T-cell infiltrates coinciding with degeneration are primarily undefined. To address these points, we studied T cells in the intact and degenerative rat spinal cord. In the intact spinal cord, T cells were preferentially located within the gray matter. CD8+ T cells were more numerous than CD4+ lymphocytes. In cases of neuroaxonal degeneration or myelin degeneration/oligodendrocyte death, T cells were predominantly seen in areas of degeneration and were present in increased numbers. These effects were more pronounced for the CD4+ than for the CD8+ T-cell subset. Collectively, these data provide evidence for a clear cellular and compartmental bias in T-cell infiltration of the intact and degenerative spinal cord. This could indicate that CD4+ and CD8+ T cells might fulfill complementary roles in the intact and the diseased organ.
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Authors
Monika Bradl, Jan Bauer, Alexander Flügel, Hartmut Wekerle, Hans Lassmann,