gamma delta Receptor Bearing T Cells in Scleroderma: Enhanced Interaction with Vascular Endothelial Cells in Vitro

• Published in: Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) Vol. 91; no. 2; pp. 188 - 195
• Main Authors: Kahaleh, M B, Fan, Pan-Sheng, Otsuka, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.1999
• ISSN: 1521-6616
• DOI: 10.1006/clim.1999.4694

In view of the documented perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration in the involved organs in scleroderma (SSc) and the reported accumulation of gamma delta -T cells in SSc skin and lung, we evaluated gamma delta -T cell interaction with endothelial cells (EC) in vitro. gamma delta - and alpha beta -T cells were isolated from BPMN of SSc patients with early diffuse disease and of matched control subjects by an immunomagnetic method after stimulation with mycobacterium lysate and interleukin-2 for 2 weeks. Lymphocyte adhesion, proliferation, and cytotoxicity to EC were investigated. SSc gamma delta -T cells adhered to cultured EC and proliferated at higher rates than control cells. Furthermore, significant EC cytotoxicity by SSc gamma delta was seen. The cytotoxicity was blocked by addition of anti- gamma delta -TCR antibody and by anti-granzyme A antibody but not by anti-MHC class I and II antibodies. Expression of granzyme A mRNA was seen in five/five SSc gamma delta -T cells and in one/five control cells. alpha beta -T cells from both SSc and control subjects were significantly less interactive with EC than gamma delta -T cells. The data demonstrate EC recognition by SSc gamma delta -T cells and propose gamma delta -T cells as a possible effector cell type in the immune pathogenesis of SSc.