Abnormal distribution of gamma delta T lymphocytes in Graves' disease and insulin-dependent diabetes type

• Authors: A. Kretowski , J. Mysliwiec , I. Kinalska
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

There is an increasing evidence that CD3+ cells, bearing gamma delta T cell receptors representing a minor subpopulation of T cells in the peripheral blood of humans are involved in the development of autoimmunity. The aim of the present study was determination of the gamma delta T cell subpopulation levels in the peripheral blood of subjects with Graves' disease and newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes in comparison to age-matched healthy controls. The percentages of CD3+, CD8+, gamma delta TCR+CD8+, gamma delta TCR+CD8? lymphocyte subsets were measured by flow cytometry. In the peripheral blood of newly diagnosed Graves' disease patients we showed a significant decrease of gamma delta TCR+ cells and gamma delta TCR+CD8? subset content in comparison to the percentages observed in subjects after methimazole treatment and in healthy controls. We also found a significant increase of TCR+CD8+ cells in the peripheral blood of subjects with insulin-dependent diabetes, treated with insulin for 3?6 months. The present findings confirm our previous hypothesis that gamma deltaTCR+CD8+ lymphocyte subset could play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetes type 1, probably as regulatory T cells and could be induced by delivery of exogenous insulin. Our results suggest that gamma deltaT cells (gamma delta TCR+CD8? subset) could also play an important role in the development of Graves' disease and that their levels are modulated by thyreostatic treatment.

Keywords

EN

DIABETES TYPE 1; GRAVES' DISEASE; LYMPHOCYTE

Discipline

• IMMUNOLOGY: IMMUNOLOGY

• Publisher: Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis
• Year: 2000
• Volume: 48
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 39-42

Contributors

author

A. Kretowski

author

J. Mysliwiec

author

I. Kinalska

• Document Type: SHORT COMMUNICA
• Publication order reference: A. Kretowski, Department of Endocrinology, University Medical School, Bialystok, Poland