Enumeration of T cell subsets with monoclonal antibodies in minor salivary glands of patients with rheumatoid arthritis |
| |
Authors: | STINA M. SYRJÄ NEN,KARI J. SYRJÄ NEN |
| |
Affiliation: | Department of Oral Pathology and Radiology, Institute of Dentistry, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland;Department of Pathology, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland |
| |
Abstract: | Abstract – Labial salivary glands of 51 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and those of 25 control patients were examined by the ANAE (acid α-naphthyl acetate esterase) technique to determine the percentages of B- and T-lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes (MPS cells). Using monoclonal antibodies (OKT3 for all T cells, OKT4 for helper/inducer T cells, OKT6 for thymocytes, and OKT8 for suppressor/cytotoxic T cells) T cell subsets were enumerated. B- lymphocytes predominated in both series of salivary glands, and the percentages of B and T cells were equal in both series. The absolute cell counts in the salivary glands of rheumatics were significantly higher (P<0.001) than in those of healthy controls. The number of OKT4+ cells was increased in rheumatics, leading to an elevated OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio when compared with that in controls (P<0.01). The results suggest that the basic phenomenon behind the B cell hyperactivity noticed in rheumatics might be due to increased activity of T helper cells rather than reduced number of T suppressor cells, which were shown to remain almost unaffected in the salivary glands of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. |
| |
Keywords: | monoclonal antibodies rheumatoid arthritis salivary glands, minor Sjögren's syndrome T cell subsets |
|
|