Characterization of lymphocyte surface markers in patients with vitiligo.
It was demonstrated that all vitiligo patients, independently of the disease stage, have a significant decrease in the total number of T cells and an elevated level of peripheral blood lymphocytes and activated natural killers (CD56). The low level of T lymphocytes is associated with the increase in the number of CD3(+)4(+)8(+) cells, which are characterized by a faster apoptosis induction. The elevated level of B lymphocytes in peripheral blood in vitiligo is due to the significant increase in the number of B cells of all the stages of differentiation, suggesting a general activation of the whole B-cell immunity. Perhaps, it is associated with the continuous stimulations of B cells by the type 2 helper lymphocytes. The Th2 lymphocyte mediators, including IL-4, do not only stimulate of B-cell immunity, but also regulate maturation of NK cells. It is typical for vitiligo that the level of mature B cells responsible for Ig synthesis (CD38(+), mIgM(+), mIgG(+)) stays elevated even in remission. Moreover, a considerable increase in the number of peripheral blood lymphocytes expressing the adhesion receptor CD54 is observed, which most likely reflects that the blood lymphocytes are highly prepared for tissue migration.
Salmasi
Jean M
JM
Russian State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.
Kharitonova
Natalia I
NI
Kazimirsky
Alexander N
AN
Semenova
Ludmila Yu
LY
Poryadin
Gennady V
GV
Volnukhin
Vladimir A
VA
D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000097:blood
D015847:Interleukin-4