Peripheral blood T lymphocytes from systemic sclerosis patients show both Th1 and Th2 activation.
Our objective was to investigate the phenotype of helper T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). PBMC from 15 patients with SSc and 15 sex- and age-matched controls were investigated for lymphocyte subpopulations (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD16/CD56, CD3-DR); IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma mRNAs; and the relative cytokines in their cytoplasm. The last assay was carried out both in unstimulated and in PMA-activated PBMC. SSc patients presented a higher percentage of activated T cells, CD3+ DR+ (19.7 +/- 9.9 vs 5.1 +/- 2.5%; P < 0.0001); 12 of them presented IFN-gamma mRNA-positive cells; and none IL-2 or IL-4 mRNAs. Under basal conditions, PBMC from six SSc patients contained IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma (i.e., they showed both Th1 and Th2 activation), and 1 IFN-gamma only. PMA-stimulated PBMC of patients differed from those of controls only in the increased percentage of IFN-gamma positive cells (52 +/- 12 vs 37 +/- 11%; P < 0.01). Our study demonstrates that Thl activation occurs in the peripheral blood of SSc patients. This evidence must be faced with from both a pathogenetic and a therapeutical point of view.
Valentini
G
G
Rheumatology Unit, Second University of Naples, Italy. gabriele.valentini@unina2.it
Baroni
A
A
Esposito
K
K
Naclerio
C
C
Buommino
E
E
Farzati
A
A
Cuomo
G
G
Farzati
B
B
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate