HIV/HCV合并感染者淋巴细胞活化及第二受体表达的研究

目的了解中国不同疾病进展阶段人类免疫缺陷病毒和丙型肝炎病毒（HIV／HCV）合并感染者T淋巴细胞与自然杀伤细胞（natural killer cells，NK）数量变化及T淋巴细胞活化、受体表达情况，并探讨HCV感染对HIV感染免疫指标及疾病进展的影响。方法应用流式细胞术分析228例不同疾病进展阶段的HIV／HCV合并感染者及101例单纯HIV感染者外周血T淋巴细胞、NK细胞数量及T淋巴细胞活化受体（HLA-DR、CD38）、第二受体（CCR5、CXCR4）表达情况。结果（1）HIV／HCV合并感染组中，CD4^＋T淋巴细胞、NK细胞数量随疾病进展持续下降，其中艾滋病组（AIDS）明显低于无症状HIV感染组（HIV）（P〈0．05），HIV组明显低于长期不进展组（LTNP）（P〈0．01），LTNP组与健康对照组差异无统计学意义。LTNP组、HIV组及AIDS组CD4^＋、CD8^＋T细胞表面活化受体HLA-DR、CD38的表达依次升高，其中各组间CD8／CD38的升高差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05），AIDS组CD4／HLA-DR、CD8／HLA-DR的升高明显高于LTNP组和HIV组（P〈0．01）。LTNP组、HIV组及AIDS组CD4^＋、CD3^＋T细胞表面CCR5的表达亦依次升高，各组间差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；CD3^＋T细胞表面CXCR4的表达依次升高，AIDS组明显高于HIV组和LTNP组（P〈0．01）。（2）HIV／HCV合并感染组与单纯HIV感染组相比，AIDS组NK细胞明显下降（P〈0．05），CD4^＋T细胞下降，但无统计学意义，CD4／HLA-DR、CD8／HLA-DR、CD4／CXCR4、CD3／CXCR4明显升高（P〈0．01）；HIV组NK细胞明显下降（P〈0．01），CD4／CXCR4明显升高（P〈0．05）；LTNP组各项指标与单纯HIV感染组相比差异无统计学意义。（3）HIV／HCV合并感染组的HIV病毒载量随疾病进展不断升高，与单纯HIV感染组相比差异无统计学意义；HCV病毒载量在疾病不同阶段差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论随疾病进展，HIV／HCV合并感染者的免疫功能逐渐下降，HIV病毒载量逐渐升高。与单纯HIV感染相比，合并HCV感染可通过破坏机体天然免疫功能、促进免疫系统活化和受体表达，加速HIV感染的疾病进展。     

趋化因子受体CCR5、CCR7、CXCR3和CXCR6在丙肝患者肝内及外周血CD4+ T淋巴细胞上的表达及其意义

目的比较趋化因子受体CCR5、CCR7、CXCR3和CXCR6在丙肝患者肝内和外周血CD4^＋T淋巴细胞表面表达水平及其意义,同时进一步了解其与肝脏组织学炎症反应的关系.方法采用荧光标记抗趋化因子受体的单克隆抗体对肝内及外周血中CD4^＋T淋巴细胞表面的趋化因子受体进行染色后,采用9色11参数流式细胞仪LSRⅡ进行检测分析.结果（1）肝内CCR5^＋、CXCR3^＋或/和CXCR6^＋的CD4^＋T淋巴细胞频数高于外周血（P＜0.001）,而CCR7^＋CD4^＋T淋巴细胞频数低于外周血（P＜0.001）;（2）肝内CCR5^＋或CXCR6^＋的活性（CD38^＋）CD4^＋T淋巴细胞频数高于外周血（P＜0.05）;（3）肝内表达2种或2种以上趋化因子受体CCR5、CXCR3和CXCR6的CD4^＋T淋巴细胞频数明显高于外周血（P＜0.001）,而不表达或仅表达一种上述趋化因子受体CD4^＋T淋巴细胞频数明显低于外周血（P＜0.001）;（3）CCR5和CXCR6在肝内CD4^＋T淋巴细胞表面的表达有中等度相关;（4）肝内组织学炎症明显组表达趋化因子受体CCR5、CXCR3或CXCR6的CD4^＋T淋巴细胞频数高于炎症轻微组.结论趋化因子受体CCR5、CXCR3和CXCR6可能介导CD4^＋T淋巴细胞向肝内迁徙定植,并参与肝脏炎症的病理免疫学反应过程.     

中国经采供血HIV感染长期不进展者CD4~+T淋巴细胞趋化因子受体表达研究

目的:了解中国经采供血HIV感染长期不进展者CD4+T淋巴细胞趋化因子受体表达,分析其与疾病不进展的关系。方法:收集43例经采供血HIV感染长期不进展者、82例无症状HIV感染者、35例AIDS病人及40例健康对照的抗凝全血,用流式细胞仪检测趋化因子受体CCR5、CXCR4的表达,并分析其与病毒载量、CD4+T淋巴细胞绝对值及T淋巴细胞活化的相关性。结果:长期不进展组CD4+T细胞表面CCR5的表达明显低于无症状HIV感染组及AIDS组(P0.01),与健康对照无显著差异;CD4+T细胞表面CXCR4的表达各组无显著差异。CD4+T细胞表面CCR5的表达与CD4+T细胞数量显著负相关(r=-0.498,P0.05),与病毒载量无显著相关性。CD4+T细胞表面CCR5的表达与HLA、CD38在CD4+、CD8+T细胞的表达水平显著正相关(P0.001,CD38在CD4+T细胞的表达除外),CD4+T细胞表面CXCR4的表达与HLA在CD4、CD8+T细胞的表达水平显著负相关(P0.01)。结论:HIV感染长期不进展者CD4+T细胞趋化因子受体CCR5表达维持较低水平,与疾病不进展相关。     

HIV-1感染者淋巴细胞活化与第二受体表达的研究

目的：了解HIV－1感染者体内淋巴细胞的活化情况及表达第二受体CCR5、CXCR4的淋巴细胞活化状态，分析这些指标与疾病严重程度的关系，探讨HIV感染的免疫基础。方法：用三色标记法流式细胞术检测24例HIV－1感染者及13例健康对照的抗凝血标本，分析活化标志物HLA－DR及第二受体CCR5、CXCR4的表达等指标。结果：HIV－1感染者CD8^ T淋巴细胞的HLA－DR表达高于健康对照（P＜0．001）；HIV－1感染者表达CCR5、CXCR4的CD8^ T淋巴细胞活化明显高于健康对照（P＜0．001）；表达CCR5CD4^ 、CD8^ T淋巴细胞与表达CXCR4相比HL－DR表达均明显增高（P＜0．001）；CD4^ 、CD8^ T淋巴细胞的活化状态与CD4百分率的变化明显关系。结论：HIV－1感染者CD8^ T淋巴细胞及表达不同第二受体的CD8^ T淋巴细胞活化程度明显增高，活化程度与疾病进程相关。     

中国HIV感染者细胞毒性淋巴细胞内穿孔素的差异性表达

目的 了解中国HIV感染者细胞毒性相关的NK细胞及CD8^＋T细胞内穿孔素表达水平，探讨HIV感染过程中穿孔素表达与机体免疫功能的关系。方法 采集31例未经抗病毒治疗的HIV感染者和经过高效抗逆转录病毒疗法（HAAS）治疗的17例HIV／AIDS患者以及15例健康对照的抗凝全血，应用流式细胞仪胞内染色法检测CD56^＋／CD3^-、CD3^-／CD16^＋NK细胞及CD8^＋／CD3^＋内穿孔素表达的百分数，分析其与NK细胞绝对值、NK细胞百分数、CD4^＋T、CD8^＋T淋巴细胞绝对值及血浆病毒载量的相关性。结果 中国HIV感染者的NK细胞CD56^＋／CD3^-及CD3^-／CD16^＋亚群穿孔素表达百分数（平均13．17％，平均24．05％）高于CD8^＋T细胞穿孔素表达百分数（平均9．03％）；NK细胞内穿孔素表达低于健康对照（P〈0．05，P〈0．05），CD8^＋T细胞内穿孔素表达高于健康对照（P〈0．05）；NK细胞及CD8^＋T细胞内穿孔素表达水平与其绝对计数显著相关，与疾病进展不相关。HAART治疗组NK细胞内穿孔素表达升高，CD8T^＋细胞内穿孔素表达无显著变化。结论 中国HIV感染者NK细胞内穿孔素表达降低，抗病毒治疗后升高；CD8^＋T细胞内穿孔素表达升高，抗病毒治疗后无显著变化。     

IL-7对中国HIV/AIDS患者病程的影响

目的 了解IL-7对中国HIV／AIDS患者病程的影响。方法应用超敏感酶免法对66例中国HIV／AIDS感染者及8例健康对照者血浆IL-7水平进行定量检测，分析其与CD^＋T细胞绝对值、血浆病毒载量及HIV表型的相关性；并且在体外研究rhIL-7对人PBMC中T淋巴细胞增殖及CXCR4表达的影响。结果中国HIV／AIDS患者血浆IL-7水平高于健康对照（P〈0．05），与CD4^＋T细胞绝对值负相关（P〈0．01），与血浆病毒载量正相关（P〈0．05）。rhIL-7可在体外促进T淋巴细胞增殖反应及CXCR4表达。结论中国HIV／AIDS患者血浆IL-7水平升高，且与疾病进展密切相关，可作为疾病进展的相关标志之一。     

ConA刺激对CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞趋化特性及其表面趋化因子受体CCR4/CCR6表达的影响

目的：体外动态观察ConA激活的调节性T细胞表面趋化因子受体的表达变化及其趋化特性，为利用调节性T细胞诱导免疫耐受提供线索。方法：①流式细胞仪分选出CD4hiCD12710CD25 hiint细胞。②纯化的调节性T细胞与CD4^＋CD25一T细胞分别用ConA（10Fg／m1）刺激0、24和48小时后，用趋化因子CCL1、CCI5、CCL20、CCI_22做趋化实验，观察各趋化因子作用下调节性T细胞与CD4^＋CD25-T细胞的趋化特性。同时，流式细胞仪检测CCR4与CCR6的表达。结果：①分离得到的调节性T细胞纯度为97．4％，活细胞率为95％，得率：4．1％。②CCL1、CCL20、CCL22均可趋化调节性T细胞，且在ConA激活后趋化效率随时间而改变。CCL1与CCL22对调节性T细胞的趋化指数显著高于CD4^＋CD25^-T细胞；CCL20对调节性T细胞和CD4^＋CD25-T细胞趋化指数都很高；CCL5对调节性T细胞趋化性则显著弱于CD4^＋CD25^-T细胞。③ConA刺激后，调节性T细胞趋化因子受体CCR4、CCR6的表达均明显高于对照组细胞（CD4^＋CD25^-细胞）。随着ConA刺激时间延长，两组细胞CCR4的表达均持续增强；两组细胞CCR6的表达均在刺激24小时后表达明显增强，48小时后CCR6的表达略有减弱，呈下降趋势。结论：①磁珠阴性分选结合流式细胞仪技术可分选出较高纯度及活率的调节性T细胞。②调节性T细胞与CD4^＋CD25^-T细胞相比，二者具有不同的趋化特性。CCL1对调节性T细胞的趋化作用较特异，CCL-22趋化作用较强，CCL5趋化作用较弱。而CCL20对CD4^＋CD25-T细胞和调节性T细胞趋化作用都强。③ConA刺激后48小时内趋化因子CCLl、CCL20、CCL-22对调节性T细胞的趋化作用随刺激时间而增强。④ConA刺激可以增强受体CCR4、CCR6表达。⑤提示趋化因子受体的表达与细胞活化状态有关，且不同受体表达变化趋势不同。     

多器官功能障碍综合征小鼠肺间质树突状细胞的病理学观察

目的探讨肺间质树突状细胞在多器官功能障碍综合征（MODS）免疫紊乱及脏器损伤机制中的变化与作用。方法C57BL／6小鼠腹腔注射酵母多糖复制MODS模型,分为正常、3—6h（致伤早期）、12～48h[失控性全身炎性反应（SIRS）期]、5～7d（恢复期）和10～12d（MODS期）组。光镜与电镜观察各组小鼠肺及间质树突状细胞的病变;运用免疫组织化学方法检测间质树突状细胞表面标记物CD11c和CD205,共刺激分子CD80和CD86在肺中的表达水平;逆转录-聚合酶链反应法检测趋化因子SLC及其受体CCR7在肺中的表达情况;流式细胞术检测MODS各期小鼠外周血CD4^＋与CD8^＋的T淋巴细胞数量与比值。结果致伤早期,肺间质树突状细胞显著增生,共刺激分子CD80和CD86低水平表达,趋化因子SLC及其受体CCR7在肺组织中表达水平开始上升,外周血T淋巴细胞CD4^＋／CD8^＋比值下降;SIRS期,间质树突状细胞继续增生,CD80和CD86标记阳性细胞数显著上升（与正常组比较均P〈0．01）,SLC与CCR7在肺组织中表达明显高于正常组（均P〈0．01）,外周血T淋巴细胞CD4^＋／CD8^＋比值明显下降（与正常组比较P〈0．01）;MODS期,肺间质树突状细胞高度增生,但CD80和CD86表达显著减少（与SIRS期比较P〈0．01）,肺组织中SLC表达水平继续上升,而CCR7表达水平明显下降（与SIRS期比较P〈0．01）,外周血T淋巴细胞CD4^＋／CD8^＋比值显著下降。结论肺间质树突状细胞在MODS中的变化可能参与并影响了MODS病程中的免疫失衡与免疫抑制过程。CCR7的表达水平可以作为估价间质树突状细胞迁移活性和机体免疫应答水平的一个指标。     

291例HIV感染者合并HCV及HSV-2感染状况及相应免疫特征分析

目的了解HIV感染者中HCV及HSV-2合并感染的情况及CD4＋T细胞免疫特征。方法用ELISA方法检测291例HIV感染者的抗HCV及HSV-2抗体,对HIV感染者进行CD4＋T淋巴细胞绝对计数和其占T淋巴细胞的百分比分析。结果 HIV合并HCV感染43例,合并HSV-2感染99例,合并HCV和HSV-2感染31例。CD4＋T淋巴细胞百分比以合并感染HCV组最高（78.4%）,合并感染HSV-2组和无合并感染次之,合并感染HCV和HSV-2组最低,组间差异无统计学意义。CD4＋T淋巴细胞绝对数以合并感染HCV和HSV-2组最低,合并感染HCV组、合并感染HSV-2组居中,无合并感染组最高,组间差异无统计学意义。结论 HIV感染者合并HCV、HSV-2感染率较高,HIV合并HCV和HSV-2感染时,CD4＋T细胞绝对数和CD4＋T淋巴细胞百分比下降,加重损害机体的免疫系统。     

正常人周围血初始和记忆T细胞亚群及细胞因子表达的探讨

目的：利用多色流式检测技术探讨初始和记忆T细胞亚群与细胞因子表达之间的关系。方法：自正常人静脉血中分离PBMC,经超抗原（SEB）刺激5h后,加入多种抗细胞表面标记和抗细胞因子抗体进行染色,利用流式细胞术检测,并利用Flow Jo软件分析结果。结果：根据CD45RO表达与否,将CD4^＋和CD8^＋T细胞分为初始和记忆T细胞,再根据归巢受体（CD62L）和趋化因子受体（CCR7）的表达与否,将初始和记忆T细胞进一步分为不同的亚群。当T细胞受到SEB激活后,CD45RO^＋和CD45RO^-的CD4^＋或CD8^＋T细胞均表达IL-2、IFN-γ和TNF-α。进一步分析结果表明,CD62L^hi和CD62L^hiCCR7^＋细胞不表达细胞因子,而CD62L^loCCR7^lo和CCR7^＋T细胞均表达细胞因子,其中CD62L^loCCR7^lo细胞表达细胞因子的阳性率明显高于CCR7^＋细胞亚群。结论：只利用CD45RO表达与否区分初始和记忆T细胞是不够准确的,同时检测CD62L的表达,可明显地提高其准确性。     

HIV/AIDS患者CCR5、CXCR4的表达与疾病进展的关系

目的　了解HIV AIDS患者淋巴细胞表面第二受体CCR5、CXCR4的表达 ,分析其与疾病进展的关系 ,探讨HIV感染的免疫基础。方法　收集 33例HIV AIDS患者及 13例健康对照的抗凝全血 ,用流式细胞仪检测第二受体CCR5、CXCR4的表达 ,并分析第二受体表达与病毒载量、CD4 + T淋巴细胞绝对值及T淋巴细胞活化 (HLA DR+ CD38+ )的相关性。结果　艾滋病组CD4 + 、CD8+ T淋巴细胞表面CCR5表达高于无症状HIV 1感染组及健康对照 (P <0 .0 0 1) ;艾滋病组CD8+ T淋巴细胞表面CXCR4表达低于健康对照 (P <0 .0 1)。HIV AIDS患者CD4 + 、CD8+ T淋巴细胞表面CCR5的表达与病毒载量明显正相关 (P <0 .0 1) ;与CD4 + T淋巴细胞绝对值明显负相关 (P <0 .0 1) ,与T淋巴细胞活化(HLA DR+ CD38+ )水平明显正相关 (P <0 .0 0 1)。结论　HIV 1感染者第二受体CCR5的表达与机体对HIV的免疫反应及疾病进展密切相关。     

Abnormal expression of intracellular cytokines and chemokine receptors in peripheral blood T lymphocytes from patients with systemic sclerosis

In patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), there are conflicting findings regarding which is predominant between type 1 and type 2 immune responses. To determine the balance between type 1 and type 2 T lymphocytes in peripheral blood from SSc patients, we investigated the expression of intracellular cytokines, such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, and IL-13, and chemokine receptors such as CXCR3 and CCR4 by flow cytometry. The frequency of IFN-gamma-producing cells among CD8+ cells was significantly increased in patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (n = 11, P < 0.0001) and limited cutaneous SSc (lSSc; n= 16, P < 0.0001) compared with normal controls (n = 17) while there was no significant difference in the frequency of IL-4- or IL-13-producing cells. In contrast, the frequency of IFN-gamma- or IL-4-producing cells among CD4+ cells was similar between the three groups. Similar results were obtained when absolute numbers were assessed. The frequency of IFN-gamma-producing cells among CD8+ cells inversely correlated with percentage DLco in SSc patients (r = - 0.650, P < 0.005). CXCR3+ CD8+ cells selectively produced IFN-gamma, and the frequency of CXCR3+ CD45RO+ cells among CD8+ cells was higher in lSSc patients (n = 14, P < 0.01) than in normal controls (n = 22). In contrast, there was no significant difference in the frequencies of CXCR3- or CCR4-expressing CD45RO+ cells among CD4+ cells. These results demonstrate the predominance of type 1 cytokine-producing cells (Tc1 cells) in peripheral blood CD8+ T cells from SSc patients, but no definite Th1/Th2 imbalance in CD4+ T cells. Tc1 cells may be associated with pulmonary vascular damage in SSc.     

Type 1 chemokine receptor expression in Chagas' disease correlates with morbidity in cardiac patients

Chemokines and chemokine receptors (CKRs) control the migration of leukocytes during the inflammatory process and are important immunological markers of type 1 (CCR5 and CXCR3) and type 2 (CCR3 and CCR4) responses. The coexpression of CKRs (CCR2, CCR3, CCR5, CXCR3, and CXCR4) and intracellular cytokines (interleukin-10 [IL-10], IL-4, tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha], and gamma interferon [IFN-gamma]) on T CD4+ and CD8+ peripheral cells from individuals with indeterminate (IND) or cardiac (CARD) clinical forms of Chagas' disease after in vitro stimulation with Trypanosoma cruzi antigens, were evaluated in this study. The percentage of T CD4+ and CD8+ cells coexpressing CCR5 and IFN-gamma, CXCR3 and IFN-gamma, and CXCR3 and TNF-alpha were higher in CARD than in IND individuals; on the other hand, the percentage of T CD4+ or CD8+ cells coexpressing CCR3 and IL-10 or coexpressing CCR3 and IL-4 were lower in CARD individuals than in IND individuals. In addition, a significant positive correlation between the expression of CCR5 or CXCR3 and IFN-gamma was observed in CARD individuals contrasting with a significant positive correlation between the expression of CCR3 and IL-4 and of CCR3 and IL-10 in IND patients. These results reinforce the hypothesis that a T. cruzi-exacerbated specific type 1 immune response developed by CARD chagasic patients is associated with the development of heart pathology.     

Pulmonary chemokines and their receptors differentiate children with asthma and chronic cough

BACKGROUND: Cough is a frequent symptom in children, but the differentiation of asthmatic cough from cough of other origins can be difficult. Chemokines recruit T lymphocytes to inflamed tissues, and the corresponding chemokine receptors are differentially expressed on T H 1 and T H 2 cells. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether levels of T H 1/T H 2-related chemokines and their receptors differ in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from 12 children with allergic asthma, 15 nonatopic children with chronic cough, and 10 children without airway disease. METHODS: The T H 1-related (IFN-gamma-inducible protein of 10 kd [IP-10], IFN-gamma-inducible T cell alpha chemoattractant [ITAC], monokine induced by IFN-gamma [Mig], and IFN-gamma) and T H 2-related (thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine [TARC], macrophage-derived chemokine [MDC], IL-5, and IL-4) chemokines and cytokines were quantified in BALF by ELISA and a particle-based multiplex array. Percentages of pulmonary lymphocytes expressing CXCR3 + and CCR5 + (T H 1) and CCR4 + and CCR3 + (T H 2) chemokine receptors were determined in BALF by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Pulmonary CCR4 + CD4 + cells and levels of TARC and MDC were significantly increased in asthmatic children versus children with chronic cough or without airway disease. In asthmatic children CCR4 + CD4 + cells correlated positively with levels of TARC, MDC, and serum IgE levels and negatively with FEV 1 . In contrast, CXCR3 + CD8 + cells and levels of ITAC were significantly increased in children with non-atopic chronic cough compared with the other groups. In children with chronic cough, CXCR3 + CD8 + cells correlated with levels of ITAC and IFN-gamma. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary CCR4 + CD4 + and CXCR3 + CD8 + cells and their ligands TARC, MDC, and ITAC clearly differentiate asthmatic children from nonatopic children with chronic cough. The analysis of these markers could facilitate the diagnostic discrimination of asthma versus other reasons for chronic cough in children.     

HIV／HCV共感染者NK细胞数量和功能的研究

目的 研究HIV/HCV共感染者的NK细胞数量和功能的变化,探讨HIV/HCV共感染对NK细胞的影响。方法 应用流式细胞术（FCM）检测HIV/HCV共感染者（n=18）、单纯HIV感染者（n=20）、单纯HCV感染者（n=30）及健康对照（n=18）的NK细胞数量,用PMA和K562细胞刺激外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）、流式细胞术检测NK细胞分泌IFN-γ的能力,并用流式细胞毒性分析法检测NK细胞对K562细胞的杀伤效率,对各组NK细胞的功能进行分析和比较。结果 HIV/HCV共感染者、单纯HIV感染者、单纯HCV感染者的NK细胞频率、NK细胞分泌IFN-γ的能力以及对K562细胞的杀伤能力都显著低于健康对照;HIV/HCV共感染者的NK细胞绝对值和对K562细胞杀伤能力显著低于HIV和HCV单纯感染者。结论 HIV/HCV共感染对NK细胞数量和功能的影响较单纯HIV和HCV感染更加严重。     

In vivo stability of human chemokine and chemokine receptor expression.

Cross-sectional analyses of human PBMC, plasma, and tissue have reported altered chemokine and/or chemokine receptor expression in several inflammatory diseases. Interpretation of such studies is difficult without data on the in vivo stability of such parameters. Using four color flow cytometry, we longitudinally followed CXCR3, CCR5 (Th1-associated), and CCR3 (Th2-associated) expression within CD4+/CD45RO+ and CD8+/CD45RO+ T cell populations in peripheral blood of healthy individuals over a 21 day period. In parallel, we quantified plasma levels of IP-10, Mig, eotaxin and TARC. Chemokine and receptor expression differed markedly between subjects but was highly stable, varying by <5% within individuals. Differences in chemokine receptor expression between subjects were markedly altered when quantified as absolute cell numbers rather than frequencies. Finally, CCR3 expression by CD4+/CD45RO+ T cells was positively correlated with plasma levels of its ligand, eotaxin, whereas strong negative correlations were evident between CXCR3 expression and IP-10 or Mig. These data demonstrate longitudinal stability of chemokine receptor and ligand expression among healthy individuals; reveal that both frequency and absolute cell count analysis is essential for accurate assessment of chemokine receptor expression; and identify inverse relationships between type 1 and type 2 immunity-associated receptors and their ligands in vivo.     

Selective recruitment of CXCR3+ and CCR5+ CCR4+ T cells into synovial tissue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The inflamed synovial tissue (ST) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by the selective accumulation of interferon gamma-producing Th1-type CD4+ T cells. In this study, we investigated whether the predominance of Th1-type CD4+ cells in the ST lesion is mediated by their selective recruitment through Th1 cell-associated chemokine receptors CXCR3 and CCR5. The lymphocyte aggregates in the ST of RA contained a large number of CD4+ T cells, which mostly expressed both CXCR3 and CCR5, but not CCR4. In contrast, the frequencies of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing CXCR3 and CCR5 in the blood were significantly decreased in RA patients, compared with healthy controls (HC), although there was no difference in the frequencies of CCR4-expressing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells between RA and HC. CXCR3, CCR5, and CCR4 expression in blood CD4 + T cells and CXCR3 expression in CD8+ T cells were increased after interleukin-15 (IL-15) stimulation. Therefore, the distribution of Th1-type CD4+ T cells into the ST from the blood in RA may be associated with the local expression of chemokines, both CXCR3 and CCR5 ligands, and IL-15 may play a role in enhancing these chemokine receptors on CD4+ T cell infiltrates.