[An increase in gamma-delta T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of cystic fibrosis patients].

The function of the T gamma-delta cells of the human immune system is not well known at present. Only 3-10% of the T cells express the heterodimer composed of the gamma-delta chains. Recent studies have demonstrated a role of the T gamma-delta cells in the immunopathogenesis of autoimmune and infectious diseases. The present study was designed to evaluate the quantity of T gamma-delta cells in patients with cystic fibrosis with P. aeruginosa infections. These results were compared to blood levels of T cells found in patients with acute pulmonary infections, chronic pulmonary infections and healthy control patients. The cellular phenotype was determined by flow cytometry. Monoclonal antibodies against the different cell types studied were employed. The means of each group were compared by a Student's T test of Mann Whitney. We found that the percentage of T gamma-delta cells (TCR 1+) was significantly increased in patients with cystic fibrosis when compared to the pathological controls and healthy children. We conclude that our results demonstrate that children with cystic fibrosis infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa demonstrate and increase in the subclass of T cells with the gamma-delta receptor.