Disturbed expression of Fas/FasL on CD4(+) and CD8(+)T cells in Behcet's disease, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, and idiopathic anterior uveitis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the expression of Fas/FasL antigen on peripheral blood T lymphocytes in patients with Behcet's disease, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome, and idiopathic anterior uveitis.


METHODS
The expression of Fas and FasL on peripheral blood T lymphocytes was determined using flow cytometry in 26 patients with Behcet's disease (BD), 17 patients with VKH syndrome, 25 patients with idiopathic anterior uveitis, and 43 healthy individuals (controls).


RESULTS
A higher proportion of CD4(+) T cells expressing Fas was noted in patients with Behcet's disease (25.70 +/- 7.32%), VKH syndrome (19.60 +/- 11.02%), and idiopathic anterior uveitis (20.81+/- 7.40%) compared with controls (14.02 +/- 6.30%). The expression of Fas on CD8(+) cells from patients with Behcet's disease (9.47 +/- 6.97%) and VKH syndrome (6.84+/- 5.5%) was also higher than that seen in controls (3.47+/- 2.75%). There was no difference in FasL expression on T cells between patients and controls except that a lower expression of FasL on CD8(+) T cells was noted in patients with idiopathic anterior uveitis.


CONCLUSIONS
A disturbed expression of Fas and FasL on T cells is present in patients with Behcet's disease, VKH syndrome, and idiopathic anterior uveitis, which may be involved in the perpetuation and recurrence of uveitis.
Yang
P
P
Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, P.R. China. ypzn@gzsums.edu.cn
Ji
L
L
Zhou
H
H
Huang
X
X
Xie
C
C
Jin
H
H
Chen
L
L
Kijlstra
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014606:Uveitis, Anterior / Q000276:immunology*; D014607:Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism*
C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008024:Ligands; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor