Determination of gamma/delta and other T-lymphocyte subsets in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and peripheral blood from patients with sarcoidosis and idiopathic fibrosis of the lung.
We measured five different lymphocyte subpopulations, including gamma/delta-T cells, in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from 48 consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic BAL (patients with sarcoidosis (n = 19), patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF; n = 11) and patients with other diseases of the lung). Quantitative analysis of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD16/56+ cells and gamma/delta-T cells was done by flow cytometry. The proportion of CD3+ and CD4+ cells in the peripheral blood of patients with sarcoidosis and IPF was significantly diminished, while CD8+ lymphocytes and NK cells were significantly elevated compared to healthy controls. There was no significant difference for the gamma/delta-T cell subpopulation between patients with sarcoidosis, IPF and control group. The proportion of CD3+ and CD4+ cells in BAL fluid was significantly elevated in sarcoidosis compared to IPF, while CD8+ cells were significantly diminished. Natural killer cells, defined as CD16/56+ CD3- cells, showed comparable low numbers in sarcoidosis and IPF. For gamma/delta-T cells no significant difference was found between patients with sarcoidosis and IPF.
Gruber
R
R
Institut für Immunologie, Universität München, FRG.
Pforte
A
A
Beer
B
B
Riethmüller
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000473:pathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis*; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta