title: Soluble CD8 antigen in systemic sclerosis.
abstract: In 15 patients suffering from systemic sclerosis (PSS) the function of CD8+ circulating lymphocytes was assayed by determining soluble CD8 antigen (sCD8) both in sera and in 48 hr PHA-conditioned media of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Furthermore, the frequency of circulating activated CD8+ cells, which express DR antigens, interleukin-2 receptor, and transferrin-receptor, was determined by cytofluorographic analysis. The results of this preliminary study indicate that only in 6 PSS sera sCD8 was elevated as compared to healthy controls; furthermore, we found slightly increased sCD8 in culture media from PSS patients. The frequency of circulating activated CD8+ cells was similar both in PSS patients and in controls. Overall, our findings suggest that CD8+ cell activation is not a major phenomenon in PSS.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi di L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Famularo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giacomelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sacchetti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Danese
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Luciani
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Perego
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tonietti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000032:analysis; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016827:CD8 Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin