title: Correlation between the numbers of gammadelta T cells and CD4+ HLA-DR+ T cells in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid from patients with diffuse lung disease.
abstract: CD4+ HLA-DR+ T cells are known to be increasing in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with sarcoidosis, and related to disease activity. Although there are several reports that the number of gammadelta T cells in peripheral blood from patients with sarcoidosis are increasing, contradictory assertions can be seen about the number of gammadelta T cells in BALF, and the clinical significance on the presence of gammadelta T cells in disease site of patients with diffuse lung disease including sarcoidosis. The absolute number of gammadelta T cells and CD4+ HLA-DR+ T cells in BALF were determined by flow cytometry in 107 patients with diffuse lung diseases; 56 with sarcoidosis, 36 with collagen vascular diseases with lung involvement and 15 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. We also measured the number of the transferrin receptor-positive macrophages in BALF. The correlation between gammadelta T cells and activated (maybe antigen-specific) T cells and macrophages were evaluated. Sarcoidosis patients were also evaluated from the data of the number of gammadelta T cells in peripheral blood by flow cytometry and clinical backgrounds. A significant correlation between the numbers of these two cell types was detected in each of the three patient groups. The percentage of peripheral gammadelta T cells was markedly increased in 7 sarcoidosis patients, each of whom also showed affected organs other than lung, however, 5 individuals did not show an increased number of gammadelta T cells in BALF. The number of gammadelta T cells in BALF did not correlate with the number of transferrin receptor-positive macrophages in all three patient groups. These results suggest that the increased number of gammadelta T cells in diffuse lung diseases likely plays a role in immunosurveillance and contributes to the activation of antigen-specific alphabeta T cell.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Japan. eiichi@med.niigata-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsukada
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ishizuka
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Fumitake
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gejyo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D003095:Collagen Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008947:Mixed Connective Tissue Disease / Q000276:immunology; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000276:immunology; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000276:immunology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology*; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta