IMMUNOREGULATORY AND ACTIVATED T-CELLS IN AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS PATIENTS

Circulatory immune complexes increased in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and an autoimmune mechanism was inferred. Autoimmune diseases may have changes in the percentages of immunoregulatory T cells and increased activated T cells (Ia+ T) in peripheral blood. The latter are also increased with active viral and bacterial infection and immunization. No significant changes were found of the percentages of immunoregulatory T cells and no relation of the individual values to the clinical state. Ia+ T cells were not increased over the normal range but within that range there was significant negative correlation with the ALS clinical score.