title: Cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity, T cell subsets, and IL-2 secretion in patients with peripheral vascular disease.
abstract: To determine whether anergy in patients with peripheral vascular disease is related to an abnormality of their T cells, the distribution of T-cell subsets and monocytes in peripheral blood was studied in relation to the delayed hypersensitivity response following the intradermal injection of 7 recall antigens. Positive correlation coefficients were observed between either the sum of the induration at 48 hr or the number of antigens giving a positive response and the percentage of total T cells (OKT 3) and helper T cells (OKT 4). The percentages of suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (OKT 8) and monocytes (OKM 1) showed no correlation with skin reactivity to the recall antigens. In vitro secretion of IL-2 by purified T cells was similar in anergic patients and in patients with normal delayed hypersensitivity responses. Addition of IL-2 to unstimulated T cells or T cells stimulated in vitro with either tetanus toxoid or PPD sometimes potentiated incorporation of 3H-thymidine into the cells after 6 days of culture.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000276:immunology; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D014373:Tuberculin