Gamma delta + T cells in Wilson's disease.

Little is currently known about the role of gamma delta + T cells in disease pathogenesis. We have demonstrated elevated levels of gamma delta + T cells in the peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Wilson's disease compared with other neurological diseases. The percentage of V delta 1 +/ gamma delta + T cells was between 20% and 50% in all patient groups; gamma delta + T cells in blood correlated with copper concentrations. The antigen reactivity of gamma delta + T cells and how the antigens relate to the gamma delta + T cells found in WD remains unknown. It remains unclear whether there is a direct reason for the elevated gamma delta + T cells population found in WD. Immunohistochemistry of frozen autopsy material from brain and liver of WD patients could allow exact localization of gamma delta + T cells and heat shock proteins in future studies.