Peripheral blood T lymphocyte subpopulations defined by monoclonal antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis: distribution in patients untreated and treated by oral gold therapy.
The distribution of T lymphocyte subsets was determined in peripheral blood (PB) of two groups of patients with rheumatoid arthritis by using monoclonal antibodies (OKT). In untreated patients the percentage of OKT4+ cells (helper/inducer) was found to be significantly increased as compared to healthy controls. In patients receiving oral gold therapy a similar increase in OKT4+ cells was confirmed; furthermore, these patients showed a significant decrease in OKT8+ cell population (cytotoxic/suppressor) compared to untreated patients and to normal controls. A small numerical superimposition of values of OKT4+ and OKT8+ lymphocytes was observed in untreated but not in treated patients.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D001310:Auranofin; D006051:Aurothioglucose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002196:Capillaries; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006051:Aurothioglucose; D001310:Auranofin; D006046:Gold