Increased peripheral blood gamma delta+ T cells and natural killer cells in Behçet's disease.
Peripheral blood cytotoxic lymphocytes, including gamma delta+ T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and CD56+ T lymphocytes were investigated by using 2-color flow cytometry in patients with Behçet's disease. The percentage of circulating gamma delta+ T cells among total lymphocytes or among total T cells was significantly increased in patients with Behçet's disease, compared to healthy controls. An increase in circulating gamma delta+ T cells was related to mucocutaneous lesions, but not the HLA-B51. Among gamma delta+ T cells, the number of CD8+ or CD56+ subset was significantly increased in patients with Behçet's disease. Moreover, significant increases of peripheral blood NK cells (CD16+CD56+CD3-, CD2+CD3-, CD8dim+CD3-) and CD56+ T lymphocytes were also observed. Our data suggest that increased circulating gamma delta+ T cells and NK cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease.
Suzuki
Y
Y
Department of Rheumatology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
Hoshi
K
K
Matsuda
T
T
Mizushima
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D059949:HLA-B51 Antigen; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000473:pathology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D059949:HLA-B51 Antigen; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta