title: Variations in alveolar cell populations, lymphocyte subsets and NK-cells in different stages of active pulmonary sarcoidosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The type and mode of presentation of pulmonary sarcoidosis (radiologic stage, activity) influence alveolar lymphocyte number and subsets as well as other inflammatory cells.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the variations in alveolar cells, lymphocyte subsets and NK-cells in different radiological stages of active pulmonary sarcoidosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  85 untreated, newly diagnosed patients (32 male, 53 female), median age 47.2+/-14.7 years were investigated. Patients were classified into chest x-ray stages (33 stage I, 27 stage II, 14 stage III and 11 stage IV disease). Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed with 4 portions of 50 mL. Total cells and cell differentials were counted, while CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, CD3-CD16/56+ (NK-cells) and CD3+CD16/56+ (NKT-cells) were determined by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lymphocytosis was high in all stages. Significant differences were found in: a) CD4 between stages I and II and I and IV. b) CD8 between stages I and IV and c) NK and NKT cells between stages I and III.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Variations were observed in alveolar cells and lymphocyte subsets in different stages of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Cells exhibiting cytotoxic activity were increased with stage progression, CD8 from stage I to IV, NK and NKT cells from stage I to III. These cells may be involved in the inflammatory process regulating granuloma formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumonology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papakosta
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kyriazis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gioulekas
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kontakiotis
authors.forename: Thalia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Polyzoni
authors.forename: Demosthenes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bouros
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Patakas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD