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T cell receptor V gene usage by CD4 + and CD8 + peripheral blood T lymphocytes in immune thrombocytopenic purpura
Author(s) -
HedlundTreutiger I,
Elinder G,
Wigzell H,
Grunewald J,
Wahlström J
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2004.tb02988.x
Subject(s) - cd8 , t cell receptor , thrombocytopenic purpura , medicine , immune system , t cell , immunology , antibody , t lymphocyte , flow cytometry , cytotoxic t cell , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , in vitro
Aim : To identify T cell expansions, i.e. increased frequencies of T cells using a particular T cell receptor (TCR) Vα or Vβ gene segment, in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Methods : The TCR repertoires of CD4 + and CD8 + peripheral blood lymphocytes of 16 patients with chronic ITP were analysed by staining with a panel of anti‐TCR Vα and Vβs antibodies followed by flow cytometry. Results : Four of the 16 patients exhibited a total of 6 expansions of CD8 + T cells using a particular Vβ segment, but no expansions were detected in the CD4 + subset. For three of the expansions where a follow‐up blood sample after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin was available, only one expansion remained. Conclusion : Overall T cell expansion frequency was the same as in healthy individuals. However, the presence of expansions that normalized with treatment suggests the presence of specific T cells implicated in the pathogenesis of ITP.