title: Lymphocyte subpopulations and S-antigen reactivity in retinitis pigmentosa.
abstract: The lymphocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood of 37 patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and 24 controls were analyzed with the Leu series of monoclonal antibodies in conjunction with fluorescence-activated cell-sorter analysis. The peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from all RP genetic types had a significantly reduced frequency of Leu-4-positive T lymphocytes than controls, and a small but significant reduction in the frequency of Leu-3a-positive T lymphocytes was seen in patients with RP with the dominant trait. The reduced T-cell population seemed to be associated with an increased frequency of Leu-11a-positive cells. The PBLs from patients with RP did not react to retinal S-antigen, as assessed by the lymphocyte transformation or interleukin-2 assays. We conclude that patients with RP, although not clinically immunologically compromised, have a significantly reduced frequency of T lymphocytes in their PBLs. Furthermore, our study did not demonstrate reactivity to retinal tissue in PBLs from patients with RP.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D019393:Arrestin; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens; D019393:Arrestin; D007376:Interleukin-2; D003208:Concanavalin A