Characterization of bronchoalveolar lavage T cell subsets in sarcoidosis on the basis of CD57, CD4 and CD8.
T cells expressing CD57 (a natural killer cell marker) with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) producing capacity increase under various conditions. CD57+ T cells are also present in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of sarcoidosis, and several phenotypical and functional analyses of these cells have been reported. In the present study, BALF T cells obtained from 52 patients with sarcoidosis were classified further into CD4+CD57+ T cells, CD4+CD57- T cells, CD8+CD57+ T cells and CD8+CD57- T cells and their phenotypes and functional characteristics were assessed. Substantial proportions of these T cell subsets expressed natural killer cell markers CD161 and CD122. The biased expansion of Vbeta2 T cells was observed in both CD4+CD57+ T cells and CD4+CD57- T cells in BALF from most patients, while the expansion of other Vbeta T cells was also observed in some patients. Unexpectedly, the biased expansion of certain Vbeta T cells was also seen in either CD8+CD57+ T cells or CD8+CD57- T cells, while the expanded Vbeta T cells in CD8+ T cells differed substantially among individuals. BALF T cells showed a remarkably lower T cell receptor (TCR) intensity than that of peripheral blood T cells. Both CD8+ T cell subsets in BALF of sarcoidosis expressed the intracellular perforin/granzyme B, while all four subsets expressed intracellular IFN-gamma after in vitro activation, and CD4+ T cells, especially CD4+CD57+ T cells, expressed tumour necrosis factor-alpha. These findings indicate that CD57+ T cells as well as CD57- T cells in the BALF are phenotypically and functionally different from peripheral blood T cells and may play an important role in the Th1 dominant state and inflammation in pulmonary sarcoidosis.
Kurumagawa
T
T
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Microbiology, National Defence Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan.
Seki
S
S
Kobayashi
H
H
Koike
Y
Y
Kanoh
S
S
Hiraide
H
H
Motoyoshi
K
K
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018959:CD57 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D053804:Granzymes; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000032:analysis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000032:analysis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015415:Biomarkers; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; C527203:KLRB1 protein, human; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; C509213:GZMB protein, human; D053804:Granzymes; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases