Virus-specific cytotoxic T cells in multiple sclerosis

Although there have been many reports of immunological abnormalities in MS, these have generally failed to examine function or have measured antigen-nonspecific cell functions such as mitogen-induced suppressor cells. Consequently, the generation of virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) has been studied in patients with MS in order to examine components of the immune system that are both antigen-specific and functionally defined. Measles virus was selected for study because of the frequent finding of increased anti-measles virus-antibody levels in serum and CSF of MS patients. For comparison, influenza virus was studied because of the good understanding of the immunological mechanisms involved in the generation of an influenza virus-specific CTL.