Analyses of T cell phenotype and function reveal an altered T cell homeostasis in systemic sclerosis. Correlations with disease severity and phenotypes.
We investigated in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients the T cell homeostasis and its relationship with the clinical course of the disease. Distribution of peripheral T cell subsets, thymic output, lymphocyte proliferation and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry or ELISA. Age inappropriate levels of naive CD4(+) T cells and thymic output were observed. Proliferation of CD4(+) T cells, lymphocyte apoptosis and CD4(+) regulatory T (Treg) cell frequency were significantly higher than those observed in controls and significantly correlated with clinical phenotypes and clinical progression parameters i.e., diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and disease activity. These data indicate that the evaluation of the T cell homeostasis can represent a valuable prognostic tool for SSc patients and it is useful to distinguish between limited and diffuse phenotypes. A therapeutic intervention targeted at reversing T cell homeostasis abnormalities would therefore potentially be helpful in counteracting disease progression.
Giovannetti
Antonello
A
Department of Clinical Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. antonello.giovannetti@uniroma1.it
Rosato
Edoardo
E
Renzi
Cristina
C
Maselli
Angela
A
Gambardella
Lucrezia
L
Giammarioli
Anna Maria
AM
Palange
Paolo
P
Paoletti
Patrizia
P
Pisarri
Simonetta
S
Salsano
Felice
F
Malorni
Walter
W
Pierdominici
Marina
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D045743:Scleroderma, Diffuse / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D045745:Scleroderma, Limited / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D002248:Carbon Monoxide