title: Natural killer cell activity, interferon-gamma and antibodies to herpes viruses in patients with Behçet's disease.
abstract: Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) titres in 20 patients with active Behçet's disease were examined and compared with those of 20 normal donors. Sera from Behçet's disease patients revealed an IFN-gamma increase but no correlation between IFN level and natural killer (NK) activity. The analysis of lymphocyte subsets by monoclonal antibodies registered an increase of CD8+ T subpopulation and cells co-expressing CD8(+)-Leu7a+ markers. Moreover, a high number of cells expressing CD25+ and HLA-DR+ phenotype has been noted in patients with active Behçet's disease. Serological analysis showed a high level of IgG antibodies to HSV-1. The increase of IFN-gamma titre, the high number of activated T cells and the increasing level of IgG antibodies to HSV-1 are important manifestations during the active stage of Behçet's disease. These findings are discussed in relation to the immunopathogenesis of Behçet's disease.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine de Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamzaoui
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ayed
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Slim
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamza
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Touraine
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007371:Interferon-gamma