title: Increased level of HLA-DR-expressing T lymphocytes in peripheral blood from patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: Peripheral blood leukocytes from 14 patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC), 13 patients with ischemic congestive heart failure, and 12 controls were characterized using different antibodies. The proportions of B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, and the different T lymphocyte subsets were estimated. No difference between the three groups could be found in the various T and B cells subpopulations. Using a two-color direct immunofluorescence technique, the occurrence of circulating T helper/inducer (Leu-3a) and T cytotoxic/suppressor cells (Leu-2a) expressing HLA-DR antigens was examined. Only IDC patients demonstrated increased levels of HLA-DR-positive T helper/inducer cells (2.8 +/- 2.4%) and T cytotoxic/suppressor cells (2.8 +/- 2.3%) as compared with patients with ischemic congestive heart failure (0.8 +/- 0.7 and 1.0 +/- 1.0%, respectively) and controls (0.6 +/- 0.5 and 0.9 +/- 0.6%, respectively). When individual IDC patients were studied, 4 out of 12 patients had an increased level of HLA-DR-expressing T helper/inducer cells, and 7 out of 12 patients had elevated HLA-DR-positive T cytotoxic/suppressor cells. The findings suggest that activation of the T lymphocytes may be of importance in the pathogenesis of IDC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Central Hospital, Luleå/Boden, Sweden.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Rönnblom
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Forsberg
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Evrin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens