Natural killer cells and gamma delta T cells in scleroderma: relationship to disease duration and anti-Scl-70 antibodies.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the expression of the natural killer (NK) antigen CD56, and T cell receptor delta chain antigen (TCR delta), expressed on the gamma delta T cell subset, in patients with scleroderma, and to correlate levels of expression with clinical characteristics.


METHODS
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 15 patients with scleroderma and 11 controls were obtained from heparinised blood on a ficoll/hypaque gradient, stained with monoclonal antibodies, and examined by flow cytometry for expression of CD56 and TCR delta.


RESULTS
Overall, the proportion of PBMCs expressing CD56 in the patient group (14.4 (SEM 2.6)%) was not significantly different from controls (8.75 (2.6)%). The greatest levels of expression were found in patients late (more than three years) in their disease course (18.1 (3.3)%) and in patients who did not express anti-Scl-70 antibodies (17.1 (3.5)%). The proportion of gamma delta T cells was significantly lower in the patient group (1.61 (0.52)% v control 2.61 (0.46)%) (p < 0.05). Patients early in their disease or with anti-Scl-70 antibodies accounted for the reduction in gamma delta T cells (0.71 (0.29)% and 0.96 (0.41)% (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
This study emphasis that NK and gamma delta T cell numbers vary depending upon patient characteristics and may help explain prior contradictory reports. Decreased numbers of gamma delta T cells were seen in scleroderma patients, especially those with anti-Scl-70 antibodies and a disease duration of less than three years.
Holcombe
R F
RF
Department of Medicine, LSU Medical Center, Shreveport 71130.
Baethge
B A
BA
Wolf
R E
RE
Betzing
K W
KW
Stewart
R M
RM
D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000097:blood; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; C048100:Scl 70 antigen, human; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I