Immunoregulatory cell subsets in Goodpasture's syndrome: evidence for selective T suppressor-cell depletion during active autoimmune disease.

In a patient with documented untreated Goodpasture's syndrome, serial determination of T-cell subsets using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry revealed a persistent but variable deficiency of T-suppressor cells during the period of active disease. As the percentage of OKT8+ cells (suppressor/cytotoxic T cells) returned to normal levels, anti-basement membrane autoantibody production decreased and finally disappeared. Possible pathogenetic implications of immunoregulatory cell imbalance specifically in reference to Goodpasture's syndrome are discussed.