Abnormal expansion of peripheral gamma delta T cells in patients with neurologic disorders.
The proportions and the variable region usages of peripheral gamma delta T cells were investigated in 205 patients with various neurologic disorders. Flow cytometric analysis was performed with monoclonal antibodies against C delta, V delta 1, V delta 2. V delta 1-J delta 1/J delta 2, and V gamma II (9) epitopes. Further analysis was carried out with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using variable region-specific primers. The proportion of gamma delta T cells in 33 patients with cerebral palsy (CP) (mean +/- SD; 11.1 +/- 11.0%) was significantly higher than that in 35 normal controls (5.6 +/- 2.6%) (p < .01). Of 205 patients, persistent gamma delta T cell expansion over 15% was observed in 15 patients (M/F = 13/2). Nine of these 15 were patients with CP. Six of the 9 with CP had neither perinatal nor postnatal events related to the neurologic abnormalities. None of the 9 with CP had active infections or autoimmune disorders that could induce gamma delta T cell expansion. Of the 15, 13 had V gamma II/V delta 2-dominant expansion and 2 showed V delta 1-dominant expansion. Unusual expansions of V delta 4 and V delta 6, which were not usually found in peripheral blood, were detected by RT-PCR in one case with CP and V delta 1-dominant expansion. This study showed subclinical immunologic abnormalities with marked and persistent gamma delta T cell expansion in patients with neurologic disorders, especially CP. These results might indicate the existence of neuroimmunologic disorder(s).
Yamamoto
T
T
Division of Child Neurology, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan. tyamamot@grape.med.tottori-u.ac.jp
Hara
T
T
Nanba
E
E
Ohashi
S
S
Suzuki
N
N
Yoshino
K
K
Takeshita
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002455:Cell Division; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019676:Genes, T-Cell Receptor delta / Q000235:genetics*; D019675:Genes, T-Cell Receptor gamma / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D012333:RNA, Messenger