Human postthymic precursor cells in health and disease. VII. Immunoregulatory circuits of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with progressive systemic sclerosis.
The study of T cell subpopulations and their immunoregulatory circuits in 9 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) and 9 age/sex matched controls showed: 1. Normal postthymic precursor autologous rosette-forming T cells (Tar cells). 2. Normal T cells with receptors for the Fc portion of IgG(Ty). 3. Decreased T cells with receptor for Fc portion of IgM(Tmu). 4. Normal function of postthymic precursors. 5. Normal Concanavalin-A-induced and spontaneously-expanded suppressor cell functions. 6. Abnormally increased T helper cell function. These findings suggest that the primary immunoregulatory aberration in PSS is at the level of Tmu cells and their helper function. Relationship between this T cell disturbance and fibroblast function may explain the pathogenesis of PSS.
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000276:immunology; D012397:Rosette Formation; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D003208:Concanavalin A