Lymphocyte subsets in Sjogren's syndrome: a quantitative analysis using monoclonal antibodies and the fluorescence-activated cell sorter.
Lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of 18 patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SS) were studied using monoclonal antibodies and the fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). The percentage of T cells was decreased when compared to normal controls. In primary SS, there was a proportional decrease in both suppressor/cytotoxic (anti-Leu-2a reactive) and helper/inducer (anti-Leu-3a reactive) T cells with an unchanged helper/suppressor ratio (1.8 vs. 1.7 for normals). In SS with an associated connective tissue disorder, there was a significant decrease only in the suppressor/cytotoxic subset. There was increase in B cells and null cells in primary SS compared to controls. Quantitative immunofluorescence allowed the calculation of determinant density per cell. Cells expressing low antigen density Leu-2a were increased in 8 patients (4 with primary SS and 4 with SS with an associated disorder). Thus, in addition to quantitative changes in lymphocyte subsets, we found changes in Leu-2a expression suggesting abnormal differentiation of the suppressor/cytotoxic subset. These changes may contribute to the immunoregulatory disturbance in Sjogren's syndrome.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D002469:Cell Separation; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006041:Goats; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A