[Alpha/beta and gamma/delta T-cell receptors--analysis of conjunctival tissue of patients with ocular pemphigoid].
BACKGROUND
In the conjunctiva of asymptomatic persons and patients with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid the existence and distribution of alpha/beta- and gamma/delta-T cell receptor (TCR)-positive cells has not previously been investigated.


METHODS
Biopsy specimens from 20 patients with clinically diagnosed ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) were compared with 20 specimens from asymptomatic persons. Additionally, 3 specimens from patients with OCP treated with cytotoxic drugs and 8 specimens from patients who had undergone mucosal transplantation were studied. Antigen retrieval was done in deparaffinized specimens for immunohistochemical identification of alpha/beta- and gamma/delta-TCR-positive cells by monoclonal antibodies and an appropriate detection system. All steps were performed in triplicate, and negative control sera were applied.


RESULTS
alpha/beta-TCR-positive cells were observed in the conjunctival epithelium and stroma of all the asymptomatic persons and in all patients with OCP. gamma/delta-TCR-positive cells were found in 4 out of 20 patients with OCP in epithelial sites, but not in asymptomatic persons. Patients with OCP who had received cytotoxic treatment exhibited neither alpha/beta- nor gamma/delta-TCR-positive cells. Staining sites of alpha/beta-TCR-positive cells changed from membrane-bound to nuclear in patients who had undergone mucosal transplantation, and were cytoplasmic rather than membrane-bound in gamma/delta-TCR positive cells.


CONCLUSIONS
This study presents preliminary evidence for the existence of distinct T-cell subsets in the conjunctiva of healthy persons and of patients with OCP. Further functional studies in fresh tissue material may provide better insights into the role of defined T-cell subsets in the immunopathogenesis of autoimmune diseases of the outer eye such as OCP.
Bialasiewicz
A A
AA
Augenklinik mit Poliklinik, Universitätskrankenhaus Eppendorf, Hamburg.
Ventura
A
A
Schaudig
U
U
Ma
J X
JX
Richard
G
G
D001706:Biopsy; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010390:Pemphigoid, Benign Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta