title: Immunophenotypical alterations in a subset of patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID).
abstract: We investigated the expression of surface molecules on lymphocytes from 20 patients with CVID and 40 healthy subjects. Lymphocytes were analysed by dual colour flow cytometry. We identified a subset of patients (8 of 20) characterized by low CD4/CD8 ratio (less than 1.1), expansion of T cells co-expressing the activation marker HLA-DR and significant increase in CD8+ T cells co-expressing CD57. Expression of the adhesion molecules LFA-3 (CD58) and ICAM-1 (CD54) was significantly increased in this subgroup. In addition, within the CD4+ T cells the percentage of CD29+ (memory) cells was increased, while the CD45RA and LAM-1 (Leu-8) antigens were depressed. These results indicate that in a subgroup of CVID patients T cells are activated in vivo and the CD57+CD8+ lymphocyte subpopulation, supposed to comprise functional suppressor T cells, is expanded. We suggest a chronic viral infection in these patients, but it is not clear whether this is primary or secondary to the underlying defect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baumert
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wolff-Vorbeck
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlesier
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Peter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D017074:Common Variable Immunodeficiency / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules