Increased gamma/delta-positive T-cells in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage of patients with sarcoidosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
A small population of T-cells does not express the conventional T-cell receptor (TCR), characterized by the alpha and beta polypeptide chains (alpha/beta TCR) but two polypeptides termed gamma and delta (gamma/delta TCR). Changes in gamma/delta TCR expression may be relevant as the cause or consequence of several diseases. Our study was undertaken to determine and compare the distribution of T-cells expressing gamma/delta TCR in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of patients with sarcoidosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and of healthy controls. In addition, the association between gamma/delta TCR of blood T-lymphocytes and accessory molecules was analysed. Using direct immunofluorescence with the anti-gamma/delta TCR and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) followed by flow cytometric analysis, the blood of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis, HP, IPF and of healthy controls was analysed. To reveal the association between gamma/delta TCR of blood T-lymphocytes and the accessory molecules, expression of CD4, CD8 and CD25 were determined. Calculating the percentage and the total number of CD3+ gamma/delta TCR cells in blood, the data indicated a significant increase of gamma/delta T-cells in individuals with pulmonary sarcoidosis and HP, compared to healthy controls and IPF patients. In sarcoidosis patients with elevated CD3+ gamma/delta TCR levels, significantly lower CD4/CD8 ratios were observed. In addition, our data demonstrate a correlation between the decrease of CD4+ cells in blood and the amplified appearance of gamma/delta TCR expression in sarcoidosis patients, but not in HP patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Raulf
M
M
Berufsgenossenschaftliches Forschungsinstitut für Arbeitsmedizin (BGFA), Institut an der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany.
Liebers
V
V
Steppert
C
C
Baur
X
X
D000328:Adult; D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000276:immunology*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D017252:CD3 Complex; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2