Involvement of T cells and alterations in T cell receptors in sarcoidosis.
Sarcoidosis is recognized to be a multisystem granulomatous disease characterized by activated, cytokine-producing T cells and macrophages at sites of inflammation. The purpose of this article is to review new evidence concerning the role of T cells in sarcoidosis. Recent work on the molecular structure and repertoire of T cell receptor genes in sarcoidosis provide direct evidence that sarcoidosis is characterized by selective expansions of oligoclonal populations of T cells at sites of inflammation, consistent with local antigen-driven immune responses. In addition, data on cytokine production in sarcoidosis indicate that tissue inflammation is dominated by expression of type 1 (T helper 1) cytokines such as interferon-gamma and interleukin-12 that, in keeping with experimental models of granulomatous diseases, likely orchestrate the granulomatous response. These studies offer new insight into the molecular mechanisms of granuloma formation in sarcoidosis and provide a framework for developing new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of this disease.
Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
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Moller
D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell