title: Impaired activation of IFN-gamma+CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: Viral persistence and autoantibodies are pathogenic components in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The aim was to evaluate T-cell function in DCM using different flow cytometry based detection techniques. Following stimulation, the frequency of IFN-gamma-producing CD4+ T cells was significantly lower in patients compared with controls. In contrast, the frequency of IL-4 producing CD4+ T cells was no different. In supernatants of cultured PBMC, IFN-gamma and IL-10 were significantly lower in patients. In addition, lymphocyte proliferation was significantly lower in patients compared with controls, whereas major lymphocyte subsets were not different. IFN-gamma and IL-10 are key cytokines in the ability to mount protective immune responses and to maintain self-tolerance. A reduced activation of T-helper 1 (IFN-gamma producing) cells and a decreased capacity to produce IL-10, found in the present study, could explain parts of the autoimmune features seen in patients with DCM.
authors.affiliation: Institution of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lindberg
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Elisabeth Hultgren
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Hörnquist
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Magnusson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007371:Interferon-gamma