Immunoregulatory cell subsets in Goodpasture's syndrome: evidence for selective T suppressor-cell depletion during active autoimmune disease.
In a patient with documented untreated Goodpasture's syndrome, serial determination of T-cell subsets using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry revealed a persistent but variable deficiency of T-suppressor cells during the period of active disease. As the percentage of OKT8+ cells (suppressor/cytotoxic T cells) returned to normal levels, anti-basement membrane autoantibody production decreased and finally disappeared. Possible pathogenetic implications of immunoregulatory cell imbalance specifically in reference to Goodpasture's syndrome are discussed.
D000328:Adult; D019867:Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal