Absolute count of T and B lymphocyte subsets is decreased in systemic sclerosis

Thilo Gambichler, C Tigges, B Burkert, S Höxtermann, P Altmeyer, A Kreuter, Thilo Gambichler, C Tigges, B Burkert, S Höxtermann, P Altmeyer, A Kreuter

Abstract

Background: Previous reports on lymphocyte subpopulations in systemic sclerosis (SSc) are conflicting. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the lymphocyte subsets in SSc patients who were not on immunosuppressive therapy.

Methods: Lymphocyte subsets were assessed in the peripheral blood of SSc patients (n = 29) and healthy controls (n = 29) using the four colour flow cytometry method. Correlation studies were also performed in order to assess the relationship between lymphocyte subsets and clinical parameters.

Results: The absolute count of lymphocytes (P = 0.0042), CD3+ (P = 0.0014), CD4+ (P = 0.0070), CD8+ (P = 0.021), and CD19+ cells (P = 0.024) was significantly decreased in SSc patients when compared to healthy controls. CD4+/CD8+ ratio and the absolute count of CD56+ cells observed in SSc patients did not significantly differ from controls (P=0.165; P = 0.632, respectively). There was no substantial relationship between the lymphocyte subset levels and clinical features (i.e., SSc subtype, autoantibody profiles, organ involvement), except for a significant inverse correlation of CD19+ cells and the modified Rodnan skin score (r = -0.43, P = 0.020).

Conclusion: Our data support previous reports indicating that subsets of T lymphocytes as well as B lymphocytes play a role in the pathogenesis of SSc.

References

    1. Leroy EC, Black C, Fleischmajer R, Jablonska S, Krieg T. et al.Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis): classification, subsets and pathogenesis. J Rheumatol. 1988;15:202–205.
    1. Melendro EI, Saldate C, Rivero SJ, Alarcon-Segovia D. T-cell subpopulations in the peripheral blood of patients with connective tissue diseases as determined by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1983;27:340–347. doi: 10.1016/0090-1229(83)90086-7.
    1. Dalkiliç E, Dilek K, Güllülü M, Yavuz M, Karakoç Y, Yurtkuran M. et al.Lymphocyte phenotypes in systemic sclerosis. Ann Rheum Dis. 1999;58:719–720.
    1. Kahan A, Kahan A, Picard F, Menkès CJ, Amor B. Abnormalities of T lymphocyte subsets in systemic sclerosis demonstrated with anti-CD45RA and anti-CD29 monoclonal antibodies. Ann Rheum Dis. 1991;50:354–358. doi: 10.1136/ard.50.6.354.
    1. Gorla R, Airò P, Malagoli A, Carella G, Prati E, Brugnoni D, Franceschini F, Cattaneo R. CD4+ and CD8+ subsets: naive and memory cells in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic sclerosis. Clin Rheumatol. 1994;13:83–87. doi: 10.1007/BF02229871.
    1. Fiocco U, Rosada M, Cozzi L, Ortolani C, De Silvestro G, Ruffatti A, Cozzi E, Gallo C, Todesco S. Early phenotypic activation of circulating helper memory T cells in scleroderma: correlation with disease activity. Ann Rheum Dis. 1993;52:272–277. doi: 10.1136/ard.52.4.272.
    1. Ercole LP, Malvezzi M, Boaretti AC, Utiyama SR, Rachid A. Analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations in systemic sclerosis. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2003;13:87–93.
    1. Ingegnoli F, Trabattoni D, Saresella M, Fantini F, Clerici M. Distinct immune profiles characterize patients with diffuse or limited systemic sclerosis. Clin Immunol. 2003;108:21–28. doi: 10.1016/S1521-6616(03)00062-7.
    1. Artlett CM, Cox LA, Ramos RC, Dennis TN, Fortunato RA, Hummers LK, Jimenez SA, Smith JB. Increased microchimeric CD4+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood from women with systemic sclerosis. Clin Immunol. 2002;103:303–308. doi: 10.1006/clim.2002.5222.
    1. Tsuji-Yamada J, Nakazawa M, Minami M, Sasaki T. Increased frequency of interleukin 4 producing CD4+ and CD8+ cells in peripheral blood from patients with systemic sclerosis. J Rheumatol. 2001;28:1252–1258.
    1. Riccieri V, Parisi G, Spadaro A, Scrivo R, Barone F, Moretti T, Bernardini G, Strom R, Taccari E, Valesini G. Reduced circulating natural killer T cells and gamma/delta T cells in patients with systemic sclerosis. J Rheumatol. 2005;32:283–286.
    1. Mitsuo A, Morimoto S, Nakiri Y, Suzuki J, Kaneko H, Tokano Y, Tsuda H, Takasaki Y, Hashimoto H. Decreased CD161+CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood of patients suffering from rheumatic diseases. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2006;45:1477–1484. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kel119.
    1. Sato S, Fujimoto M, Hasegawa M, Takehara K. Altered blood B lymphocyte homeostasis in systemic sclerosis: expanded naive B cells and diminished but activated memory B cells. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;50:1918–1927. doi: 10.1002/art.20274.
    1. Balbir-Gurman A, Denton CP, Nichols B, Knight CJ, Nahir AM. et al.Non-invasive measurement of biomechanical skin properties in systemic sclerosis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2002;61:237–241. doi: 10.1136/ard.61.3.237.
    1. Majone F, Olivieri S, Cozzi F, Montaldi A, Tonello M, Visentin MS, Ciprian L, Ruffatti A. Increased apoptosis in circulating lymphocyte cultures of anti-RNA polymerase III positive patients with systemic sclerosis. Rheumatol Int. 2008. in press .

Source: PubMed

Sponsor e collaboratori

Condizioni mediche

Interventi farmacologici

3
Sottoscrivi