title: Adaptive immunity in ankylosing spondylitis: phenotype and functional alterations of T-cells before and during infliximab therapy.
abstract: Our aim was to assess the phenotype of T-cell subsets in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease. In addition, we also tested short-term T-cell activation characteristics. Measurements were done in 13 AS patients before and during the intravenous therapy with anti-TNF agent infliximab (IFX). Flow cytometry was used to determine T-cell subsets in peripheral blood and their intracellular signaling during activation. The prevalence of Th2 and Th17 cells responsible for the regulation of adaptive immunity was higher in AS than in 9 healthy controls. Although IFX therapy improved patients' condition, immune phenotype did not normalize. Cytoplasmic and mitochondrial calcium responses of CD4+ and CD8+ cells to a specific activation were delayed, while NO generation was increased in AS. NO generation normalized sooner upon IFX than calcium response. These results suggest an abnormal immune phenotype with functional disturbances of CD4+ and CD8+ cells in AS.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Bókay János Utca 53-54, 1083 Budapest, Hungary. szalay.b@gmail.com
authors.forename: Balázs
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szalay
authors.forename: Gergo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mészáros
authors.forename: Áron
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Cseh
authors.forename: Lilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ács
authors.forename: Magdolna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deák
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: Barna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vásárhelyi
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balog
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000069285:Infliximab