Phenotype and functional properties of Vicia villosa agglutinin (VVA) binding T cells in patients with Crohn's disease: detection of contrasuppressor activity in patients lacking extra-intestinal manifestations, abscesses and fistulas.
Patients with active Crohn's disease (CD) have significantly increased numbers of T cells binding the Vicia villosa agglutinin (VVA). In patients with CD these VVA+ T cells express either the CD4 or the CD8 determinants, while in normal controls the majority of VVA+ T cells are CD8+. VVA+ T cells are significantly decreased in number in the inflamed mucosa as compared to normal controls. However, in only a subgroup of the patients do the VVA+ T cells show contrasuppressor activity with respect to the IgA and total Ig secretion upon co-cultivation with autologous B cells. Regression analysis revealed that in all data presented, contrasuppression activity correlates significantly with the absence of extra-intestinal symptoms, abscesses and fistulas.
Raedler
A
A
Department of Medicine, University of Hamburg, FRG.
Lenz
H J
HJ
Sandgren
K
K
de Weerth
A
A
Enversen
S
S
Schreiber
S
S
Thiele
H G
HG
Greten
H
H
D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D037102:Lectins / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D037121:Plant Lectins; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
D000939:Epitopes; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; C042242:Vicia lectins