Abnormalities of T lymphocyte subsets in systemic sclerosis demonstrated with anti-CD45RA and anti-CD29 monoclonal antibodies

Abstract

T ceil subpopulations were assessed by two colour flow cytometry with phycoerythrin conjugated anti-CD45RA and anti-CD29 and fluorescein conjugated anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 monoclonal antibodies, on peripheral blood lymphocytes from 12 patients with systemic sclerosis and from nine control subjects. The percentage of CD4+CD29+ ceils was significantly higher in patients with systemic sclerosis than in controls (mean (SEM) 68*8 (3-1) v 47-9 (4.1) respectively). CD4+CD45RA+ ceils were not significantly different in patients and controls. CD8+CD29+ and CD8+CD45RA+ subpopulations were significantly higher in patients with systemic sclerosis than in controls (83-0 (3.2) v 58.7 (6.8) and 80-2 (3.0) v 66-9 (3.2) respectively). The increase in the percentage of CD29+ ceils suggests an activation of memory ceils in patients with systemic sclerosis, which may play an important part in the pathogenesis of the disease.