Open AccessReduction in T γδ cell numbers and alteration in subset distribution in systemic lupus erythematosus
Author(s) -
LUNARDI C.,
MARGUERIE C.,
BOWNESS P.,
WALPORT M. J.,
SO A. K.
Publication year - 1991
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.1365-2249.1991.tb05796.x
Subject(s) - immunology , lupus erythematosus , systemic disease , distribution (mathematics) , medicine , immunopathology , antibody , mathematics , mathematical analysis
SUMMARY We have studied the distribution of Tγδ cells in the peripheral blood of 35 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 36 age‐matched controls. The monoclonal antibodies A13, BB3 and TiγA, which are specific for the Vδ1, Vδ2 and Vδ9 gene products respectively, were used to define Tγδ cell subsets. A significantly lower frequency of Tγδ cells was found in peripheral blood lymphocytes of SLE patients compared with normal subjects (3.2% versus 5.9%). There was a marked reduction in the Vδ2 + subset of Tγδ cells, which resulted in a reversal of the ratio of Vδ2 + /Vδ1 + cells from 4.34 to 0.56. No correlation was found with either clinical or laboratory measures of disease activity. These results suggest that the observed changed in Tγδ subset distribution are related to the SLE itself, and not secondary to changes in disease activity.