OBJECTIVE: To evaluate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) expressing natural killer (NK) cell surface markers (CD16 and CD56, in both CD3- and CD3+ cells) and g/d T cell receptors (TCR) involved in non-MHC-restricted cytotoxicity, assessing their possible relationship with clinical and laboratory variables in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: We submitted 50 patients with SSc to detailed clinical and laboratory assessment, and also performed PBMC subset analyses by direct dual immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found in the percentages or the absolute numbers of total lymphocytes, of B cells, and of CD4+ T cells. The absolute number of CD8+ cells was lower (p < 0.03), while HLA-DR+ elements were higher in frequency (p < 0.03) in SSc patients than in healthy controls. SSc patients had lower values (both percentage and absolute number) of NK-T cells (p < 0.01 and p < 0.003, respectively) and of T cells expressing g/d TCR (p < 0.01 and p < 0.005, respectively); whereas NK cells were marginally but not significantly decreased. The absolute number of NK-T cells showed an inverse correlation to erythrocyte sedimentation rate values (p < 0.03; rs = -0.306), percentage of g-globulins (p < 0.01; rs = -0.353), and serum concentrations of IgG (p < 0.02; rs = -0.334). CONCLUSION: Impairment of NK-T cells and of T cells expressing g/d TCR may lead to downregulation of normal immune response, and seems to be important for immunological and inflammatory aspects of SSc.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) expressing natural killer (NK) cell surface markers (CD16 and CD56, in both CD3- and CD3+ cells) and g/d T cell receptors (TCR) involved in non-MHC-restricted cytotoxicity, assessing their possible relationship with clinical and laboratory variables in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: We submitted 50 patients with SSc to detailed clinical and laboratory assessment, and also performed PBMC subset analyses by direct dual immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found in the percentages or the absolute numbers of total lymphocytes, of B cells, and of CD4+ T cells. The absolute number of CD8+ cells was lower (p < 0.03), while HLA-DR+ elements were higher in frequency (p < 0.03) in SSc patients than in healthy controls. SSc patients had lower values (both percentage and absolute number) of NK-T cells (p < 0.01 and p < 0.003, respectively) and of T cells expressing g/d TCR (p < 0.01 and p < 0.005, respectively); whereas NK cells were marginally but not significantly decreased. The absolute number of NK-T cells showed an inverse correlation to erythrocyte sedimentation rate values (p < 0.03; rs = -0.306), percentage of g-globulins (p < 0.01; rs = -0.353), and serum concentrations of IgG (p < 0.02; rs = -0.334). CONCLUSION: Impairment of NK-T cells and of T cells expressing g/d TCR may lead to downregulation of normal immune response, and seems to be important for immunological and inflammatory aspects of SSc.
Authors: Ana Henriques; Cláudia Silva; Mariana Santiago; Maria João Henriques; António Martinho; Hélder Trindade; José António Pereira da Silva; Bruno Silva-Santos; Artur Paiva Journal: Inflamm Res Date: 2016-08-30 Impact factor: 4.575
Authors: L D Carbone; K J Warrington; K D Barrow; M Pugazhenthi; M A Watsky; G Somes; J Ingels; A E Postlethwaite Journal: Clin Exp Immunol Date: 2006-12 Impact factor: 4.330
Authors: Lara Bossini-Castillo; Carmen P Simeon; Lorenzo Beretta; Jasper C Broen; Madelon C Vonk; Raquel Ríos-Fernández; Gerard Espinosa; Patricia Carreira; María T Camps; Maria J Castillo; Miguel A González-Gay; Emma Beltrán; María del Carmen Freire; Javier Narváez; Carlos Tolosa; Torsten Witte; Alexander Kreuter; Annemie J Schuerwegh; Anna-Maria Hoffmann-Vold; Roger Hesselstrand; Claudio Lunardi; Jacob M van Laar; Meng May Chee; Ariane Herrick; Bobby Pc Koeleman; Christopher P Denton; Carmen Fonseca; Timothy Rdj Radstake; Javier Martin Journal: Arthritis Res Ther Date: 2012-04-24 Impact factor: 5.156