title: Alterations of T-lymphocyte populations in Parkinson disease.
abstract: Immune reaction-related inflammation may be important in the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease (PD). To elucidate peripheral immunologic alterations in PD, we characterized extended peripheral T-lymphocyte populations in 33 patients with PD and 34 normal subjects. Patients with PD had significantly decreased CD4+:CD8(+)T-cell ratios (P<0.001), fewer CD4(+)CD25(+)T cells (P<0.01), and significantly increased ratios of IFN-gamma-producing to IL-4-producing T cells (P<0.001). The characteristics of predominant expression of CD8(+)T cells, depletion of CD4(+)CD25(high) cells, and a shift to a T(H)1-type immune response in the peripheral immune system in PD patients may reflect an immune reaction-associated inflammatory process in the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Johnan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: Ataru
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuroiwa
authors.forename: Ryan J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Uitti
authors.forename: Zbigniew K
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Wszolek
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma