Aberrations in T lymphocytes and natural killer cells in vitiligo: a flow cytometric study.
Twenty-five patients with vitiligo and twenty-five healthy control subjects were evaluated with the use of flow cytometry to compare percentages of peripheral T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. The percentages of total T lymphocytes, helper T cells, suppressor T cells, and natural killer cells were evaluated with the use of OKT3, OKT4, OKT8, and Leu-7 monoclonal antibodies, respectively. Mean total T lymphocytes and helper T cells were markedly depressed; mean natural killer cells were markedly elevated and mean suppressor T cells were moderately elevated in patients with vitiligo in comparison with control subjects. These results indicate that cell-mediated immunity is subject to some defect in regulation in patients with vitiligo. It remains to be determined whether these abnormalities are a direct cause or a result of vitiligo. Antibody-dependent cytotoxicity, utilizing killer cells with recently reported antimelanocyte antibodies found in patients, may be responsible for pigment cell destruction in vitiligo. Helper T cells may be reduced because of low levels or faulty production of T lymphocyte-stimulating factors in patients or because of a serum factor in patients that is toxic to helper T cells. The presence or absence of autoimmune and/or endocrine disease in patients with vitiligo had no effect on lymphocyte populations. There seemed to be a trend toward lower levels of helper T cells in patients having vitiligo for the shortest amount of time. In summary, the data indicate immunologic abnormalities in patients with vitiligo.
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000920:Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal