Subpopulations of T cells in lung biopsies from patients with pigeon breeder's disease.

Monoclonal antibodies were used to determine surface phenotypes of T cells in tissue obtained by open lung biopsies from patients with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (pigeon breeder's disease). The results indicate that an increased number of suppressor/cytotoxic cells is present in these patients when compared with the number of helper/inducer cells. These findings, which were present within the interstitium, are consistent with those found in bronchoalveolar lavage of patients with this disease. In addition, in two-thirds of the patients there was a greater total number of helper and suppressor cells than the total count for Pan T cells. A possible interpretation of these findings might be the presence of both markers in the same cell.