Characterisation of natural killer cells and CD56+ T-cells in sarcoidosis patients.
The aim of the current study was to investigate the frequency, phenotype and functional activity of natural killer (NK) cells and CD56+ T-cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and peripheral blood of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis when compared with healthy volunteers, using staining with a panel of monoclonal antibodies followed by flow cytometry. The results revealed that the majority of the lung NK cell subpopulation expressed CD56(bright). In contrast, there was a predominant CD56(dim) subset in the blood of both patients and healthy controls. Most lung NK cells expressed C-type lectin-like human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-E-specific inhibitory receptor (i.e. CD94/NKG2A), but only a few lung NK cells expressed killer cell immunoglobulin-like inhibitory receptors specific for HLA-A, -B or -C molecules. In addition, a significantly increased number of CD56+ T-cells were observed in the blood of patients when compared with controls. Upon in vitro stimulation, both lung NK and CD56+ T-cells produced considerable amounts of interferon-gamma and tumour necrosis factor-alpha. Thus, in the lungs of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis, a distinct phenotype of natural killer cells with the capacity to produce cytokines and actively participate in the T-helper 1-like inflammatory response associated with sarcoidosis was identified.
Dept of Medicine, Division of Respiratory Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. kkatchar@bidmc.harvard.edu
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K
Katchar
K
K
Söderström
J
J
Wahlstrom
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A
Eklund
J
J
Grunewald
D000328:Adult; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism
D019002:CD56 Antigen; D018836:Inflammation Mediators