Reduction of CD45RA isoform expression and decrease in CD4 and CD8 receptor density in lymphocytes of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.
BACKGROUND
The immunological background of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) remains largely obscure.


METHODS
Using double colour flow cytometry, we estimated the distribution of functionally different lymphocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood of 25 PBC patients and 18 controls. We examined: 1) the expression of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19 and CD56 surface receptors, 2) the distribution of lymphocyte subsets bearing 'naive' (CD45RA+) and 'memory' (CD45RO+) phenotypes in both CD4+ and CD8+ cell populations, 3) the expression of an early activation marker (CD69), 4) the distribution of C1.7 mAb binding cytotoxic effectors in CD3+, CD8+ and CD56+ cells. The surface marker expression was evaluated in terms of percentage of positive cells and receptor density.


RESULTS
We found: 1) a decrease in the percentage of total CD3+ and CD4+ cells, an unchanged proportion of CD8+ cells but elevated proportion of CD19+ cells and NK lymphocytes; 2) a reduction in the percentage of 'naive' CD4+ but normal proportion of 'naive' CD8+ as well as CD4+ and CD8+ 'memory' cell subsets; 3) a decrease in the density of CD4 and CD8 receptors in the subsets of 'naive' and 'memory' T cells, 4) an increase in the percentage of CD69 receptor bearing T cells but unchanged proportion of C1.7 mAb.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that the reduction in number of 'suppressor-inducer-like 'naive' CD4+ T-cell subsets in association with the decrease in fluorescence intensity for CD4 and CD8 may significantly contribute to the mechanisms that could account for a development of PBC.
Musialik
J
J
Dept. of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Sosnowiec, Poland. joanna@sla.com.pl
Michalkiewicz
J
J
Petelenz
M
M
Mazurek
U
U
Mazur
W
W
Madaliński
K
K
Gonciarz
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000276:immunology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008875:Middle Aged; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D020033:Protein Isoforms; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens