Open AccessThe expression of γΔ T cell receptor and the prevalence of primed, activated and IgA‐bound T cells in Behçet's syndrome
Author(s) -
FORTUNE F.,
WALKER J.,
LEHNER T.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1990.tb05447.x
Subject(s) - immunology , cd8 , receptor , immune system , biology , isotype , cytotoxic t cell , t cell , antibody , immunoglobulin e , microbiology and biotechnology , in vitro , monoclonal antibody , biochemistry
SUMMARY Mucosal ulceration of the oral, and to a lesser extent genital tissues is an essential feature of Behçet's syndrome and is associated with changes in the IgA class of immune responses. Indeed, a significant increase in the proportion of cytophilic IgAl was found in circulating CD8 and CD4 cells ( P < 0.01), with a corresponding decrease in IgA‐Fc receptors on these T cells. Furthermore, 30–40% of the cytophilic IgA1 on T cells may have been of the polymeric secretory type and the rest of the monomeric variety. IgA isotype of B cells was also significantly increased ( P < 0.001), without an overall change in circulating B cells. However, a surprising finding was the significant up‐regulation of γŞ T cell receptor in the CD8 ( P < 0.01) in the absence of a change in the proportion of αβ T cell receptor. The results suggest that some common microbial antigen might initiate at the mucosal surface an immune defence reaction characterized by T cells with γΔ receptors and IgA‐specific B cells. However, IgAl bound to circulating T cells may down‐regulate the central T cell function.