Cytokine gene and CD25 antigen expression by peripheral blood T cells from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.
We studied mononuclear cell subsets in 17 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (PSS) and in 11 normal controls by flow cytometry. We found a decreased percentage of CD4+ cells (p = 0.027) and a higher percentage of CD8+ cells in patients as compared to controls. In both, CD4+ cells and CD8+ cells, CD25 antigen was overexpressed (p = 0.005 and p = 0.025, respectively as compared to controls). We then measured spontaneous mRNA cytokine expression by T cells from 7 PSS patients and 5 normal controls by coupled reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. We found spontaneous mRNA expression for IFN-gamma, IL-10, IL-13 as well as for CD25. Our results suggest an overall T cell activation in PSS patients and provides evidence of a T cell cytokine regulatory imbalance which may play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease.
Villarreal
G M
GM
Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Tlalpan, México, D.F.
Alcocer-Varela
J
J
Llorente
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001483:Base Sequence; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2