T lymphocyte subpopulations and lymphocytotoxic antibodies in patients with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia.
Evaluation of T lymphocyte subpopulations was performed on peripheral blood of patients affected by idiopathic or associated autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. A marked reduction of absolute number of T gamma and T mu cells was observed in 11 of 16 patients; a decrease of both OKT4+ and OKT8+ cells was found in 8 of 10 patients. Circulating cytotoxic antibodies against autologous and allogenic T lymphocytes and/or thymocytes were found in almost all the cases. T lymphocyte subsets depletion, probably connected to antibodies against T lymphocytes and their thymic precursors, could play a role in autoimmunity because of T3+/T4+ cell depletion.
Fagiolo
E
E
Maggiano
N
N
Pozzetto
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007376:Interleukin-2