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Immunoelectron microscopic study of distribution of T cell subsets in oral lichen planus
Author(s) -
JUNGELL PETER,
KONTTINEN YRJÖ T.,
NORTAMO PEKKA,
MALMSTRÖM MARIA
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0722.1989.tb01624.x
Subject(s) - immunoelectron microscopy , cytotoxic t cell , cd8 , biology , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , antibody , immunology , immune system , biochemistry , in vitro
– Monoclonal anti‐CD4, anti‐CD8, and anti‐GD18 antibodies were applied in avidinbiotin‐peroxidase complex staining using a pre‐embedding immunoelectron microscopy technique. Although most of the local T cells in situ were of CD4 + subtype, local CD8 + cells generally had a lower nucleus/cytoplasm ratio and contained more cell organelles than CD4 + cells. This suggests a local activation of CD8 + subpopulation, rather than activation of the numerically predominant CD4 + cells. Topographical analysis disclosed that all lymphocytes, regardless of location, were CD18 + and that most of the CD8 + cells were located subbasally and intraepithelially, whereas CD4 + cells often occurred in small clusters deeper down in the subepithelial lymphocyte‐rich band. Furthermore, CD8 + cells were often in close contact with macrophages, whereas CD4 + cells were in some instances in direct contact with plasma cells. This indicates that CD4 + cells may be involved in T cell‐dependent B cell‐mediated immunoglobulin synthesis, whereas CD8 + cytotoxic lymphocytes and tissue macrophages may be involved in the local pathogenetic process leading to basement membrane alterations.