Natural killer cell proliferation and circulating cytokines in patients with bilateral basal ganglia calcification.
Ten adult patients with symmetrical calcifications in the bilateral basal ganglia (diagnosed as physiological calcifications) were analyzed for lymphocyte subsets and cytokines. Increased number of natural killer (NK) cells were identified in the peripheral blood of seven patients by lymphocyte subset analysis. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha was detected in the sera of five patients and interferon-gamma was detected in one patient. In summary, NK cell propagation and circulating cytokines, particularly tumor necrosis factor-alpha, may be involved in the etiology of basal ganglia calcification.
Morishima
T
T
Department of Health Science, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan. morishim@met.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Morita
M
M
Kato
T
T
Hoshino
Y
Y
Kimura
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology*
D019002:CD56 Antigen; D016207:Cytokines; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002118:Calcium