title: Increase of circulating gamma/delta T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients affected by active inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: In order to study the role of gamma/delta T cells in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in humans, we measured the percentage of these cells in the peripheral blood, assessed the ratio of the non-disulphide-linked (delta TCS1) type of T cell receptor (TCR) in the total gamma/delta T cells, studied the co-expression of gamma/delta TCR and accessory molecules CD8 and CD16, and compared these data with both the type and the activity of the disease. Percentage levels and absolute numbers of gamma/delta+ T cells were higher in active patients than in controls (P < 0.05), mainly as a result of an increase of V delta 1+ (delta TCS1) T cell subset (P < 0.05). This trend was strongly retained independently of disease activity and clinical picture. An increased percentage of TCR delta 1+/CD16+ cells was observed in our patients compared with controls (P < 0.05). In contrast, no difference was observed as far as the TCR delta 1+/CD8+ cells were concerned. These results suggest that IBD is associated with an expansion of gamma/delta T cells in peripheral blood, which may play a role in the pathogenesis of these disorders.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Medica, University of L'Aquila, School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giacomelli
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Parzanese
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frieri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Passacantando
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pizzuto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pimpo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cipriani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viscido
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caprilli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tonietti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta