Imbalance of CD4+ lymphocyte subsets in patients with mixed connective tissue disease.
CD4+ (helper/inducer) T lymphocyte subsets were studied in the peripheral blood from patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) by double-labelling immunofluorescence. The proportion of CD4+CD45RA+ cells was higher (P less than 0.01) when compared with controls, whereas CD4+CD29+ cells were markedly diminished (P less than 0.001). CD4+CD29+ cells were lower than in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis who were studied in parallel. Upon stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin, CD4+ cells from MCTD patients showed a strong reactivity to acquire the CD29+ phenotype. Expression of high levels of CD29 and other adhesion molecules might lead to facilitated localization of CD4+ cells to inflamed tissue. It is suggested that an increased responsiveness of CD4+ cells to activation signals in vivo and accumulation of CD4+CD29+ cells at tissue sites could result in depletion of this cell subset in the peripheral blood of patients with MCTD.
III. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universität Giessen, Germany.
H
H
Becker
A
A
Langrock
K
K
Federlin
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D019012:Integrin beta1; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008947:Mixed Connective Tissue Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D019012:Integrin beta1; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens