title: Analyses of T cell phenotype and function reveal an altered T cell homeostasis in systemic sclerosis. Correlations with disease severity and phenotypes.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. antonello.giovannetti@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giovannetti
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosato
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Renzi
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maselli
authors.forename: Lucrezia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gambardella
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Giammarioli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palange
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paoletti
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pisarri
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salsano
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Malorni
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pierdominici
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D002248:Carbon Monoxide