Immune functions in Parkinson's disease lymphocyte subsets, concanavalin A-induced suppressor cell activity and in vitro immunoglobulin production.

Immune abnormalities, including the occurrence of autoantibodies against neural structures, diminished numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes and reduced mitogen responses have been observed in patients with Parkinson's disease. In this study, we found that among the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) of patients with Parkinson's disease, there is a reduced number of cells spontaneously secreting immunoglobulins (Ig). After pokeweed mitogen stimulation, PBMNCs from patients with advanced Parkinson's disease had decreased capacity to elaborate Igs in vitro. In addition, there was evidence suggesting that OKT4+ (helper/inducer) subset may be decreased in Parkinson's disease along with disordered concanavalin A-induced suppressor cell activity. The findings do not primarily suggest an autoimmune pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. The immune changes now observed partially resemble those seen in normal ageing, though being quantitatively exaggerated in Parkinson's disease. It is suggested that immune abnormalities in Parkinson's disease may result from disordered neural-immune regulation.