原発性シェーグレン症候群における末梢血リンパ球サブセット

Abstract

In order to elucidate the lymphocyte functions in primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were investigated, using two-color immunofluorescence with fluorescein isothiocyanate- and phycoerythrin-labeled monoclonal antibodies to human lymphocyte antigens and flow cytometric analysis. In all of the patients with SS, the CD4/CD8 ratio was not different, but the numbers of CD3+ cells and CD4+ cells were significantly decreased compared with normal controls. In both Group 2, which exhibited globular, cavitary or destructive pattern, but did not receive any prednisolone, and Group 3, which exhibited globular, cavitary or destructive pattern, and received prednisolone, the number of CD8+ cells was significantly decreased compared with normal controls. In both Group 1, which exhibited normal or punctate patterns, and did not receive any prednisolone, and Group 2, the numbers of HLA・DR+ cells, CD16+ cells and Leu7+ cells were not different, but the number of CD20+ cells was significantly decreased compared with normal controls. In all of the patients with SS, the numbers of CD4+Leu8- subsets and CD4+Leu8+ subsets were significantly decreased, but the number of CD8+CD11+ subsets was not different compared with normal controls. In both Groups 2 and 3, the number of CD8+CD11- subsets was significantly decreased compared with normal controls. In all of the patients with SS, the numbers of CD4+HLA・DR+ subsets, CD8+HLA・DR+ subsets, CD16-Leu7+ subsets, CD16+Leu7+ subsets and CD16+Leu7- subsets were not different compared with normal controls. Group 3 demonstrated a significant decrease in CD4/CD8 ratio, but a significant increase in percentages of both CD8+ cells and CD8+CD11+ subsets compared with Group 2. These findings suggest that abnormalities of helper T cells, suppressor inducer T cells and cytotoxic T cells are found in patients with primary SS, and the decrease in CD4/CD8 ratio due to the elevation of CD8+CD11+ subsets is induced by prednisolone.