Open AccessAnalysis of the Expression of TcR V β Repertoires in Patients with Silicosis
Author(s) -
Ueki Ayako,
Nakashima Masamitsu,
Kishimoto Takumi,
Nakamura Junichiro,
Kinugawa Keigo,
Sakaguchi Haruko
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of occupational health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 1348-9585
DOI - 10.1539/joh.38.67
Subject(s) - silicosis , t cell receptor , ficoll , fluorescein isothiocyanate , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , medicine , immunology , superantigen , peripheral blood , microbiology and biotechnology , pathology , in vitro , t cell , biology , immune system , genetics , physics , quantum mechanics , fluorescence
Analysis of the expression of TcR Vß repertoires in patients with silicosis.: Ayako U eki , et al. Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School —Several environmental factors have been reported to induce autoimmune diseases, e. g. progressive systemic sclerosis in the patients with silicosis. In previous papers, we reported the superantigenicity of silicate to human lymphocytes in vitro. This study was intended to determine whether the modulation of TcR Vß repertoires can be observed in peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with silicosis. Twenty‐four patients with silicosis and 11 individuals who had no experience of exposure to silica dust donated periphral blood only after their informed consent was obtained. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were separated from 10 m/ of blood by the Ficoll‐Hypaque density centrifugation method, stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)‐conjugated monoclonal antibody specific to the TcR Vß repertoires, and analyzed flow cytometrically. The V/3 repertoires analyzed were Vß 5.3 + 5.2, 5.2, 5.1, 6.7, 8, and 12. Some distinct V/3 repertoires, V/3 5.2 + 5.3 and V/3 5.3 were predominantly but not significantly expressed in the peripheral blood lymphocytes from the patients compared with the control group, and at the same time the repertoire V/3 8 decreased in the patients, especially those with profusion rate (PR) 3. These results support the possibility that silicate acts as a superantigen in human beings as in the observations in vitro .