Expression of interleukin-2 (IL2) receptors was studied on peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) in 25 patients with bullous pemphigoid. Analysis was carried out by flow cytometry. Without immunosuppressive therapy expression of IL2 receptors only on T cells (CD5) was significantly increased as shown by double staining (11.9% +/- 7.8% vs 2.1% +/- 1% in controls). After 2-3 weeks under immunosuppressive treatment with prednisolone and azathioprine, however, BP lymphocytes did not exhibit any IL2 receptors. PBLs of 18 BP patients showed an increase in IL2 production (1027.4 +/- 670.5 U/ml vs 270 +/- 100 U/ml in controls) during the acute stage of the disease after stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)/phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). On the contrary, IL2 production of the same cells in five patients was only in the lowest range of control values after PHA stimulation without PMA (12.5 +/- 29.6 U/ml vs 40 +/- 20 U/ml in controls). Under treatment with immunosuppressants the IL2 production normalized after PHA/PMA stimulation and slightly decreased following PHA stimulation. From these results we conclude that a T-cell activation via activation antigens, as IL2 receptors, and the production of the specific ligand, IL2, may play a role in the pathogenesis of bullous pemphigoid, especially in the earliest stages, and serve as a marker of disease activity.
Summary. The expression of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) on ejaculated spermatozoa and on lymphocytes was compared by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies towards HLA class I (pan‐HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C) and class II (DR) antigens. Soluble antigens of HLA class I (s HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C) in seminal plasma and in blood plasma were monitored with an elisa technique. Lymphocytes showed specific fluorescence after incubation with the antibodies against HLA class I and class II (DR), whereas, on spermatozoa no positive immunofluorescence could be detected. No antibodies were bound to any significant extent either after modifications of sperm preparation (density gradient centrifugation, swim up‐technique, addition of azide, foetal calf serum or benzamidine chloride) or after treatment of spermatozoa with detergens. Furthermore, different concentrations of soluble HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C in seminal plasma and in blood plasma were detected. The latter one showed soluble HLA about four‐fold more concentrated than the seminal plasma (x ± SD: 262.5 ± 144.4 nmol 1‐1vs. 62.5 ± 27.1 nmol 1‐1). These results suggest, that the HLA‐expression differs between human spermatozoa and somatic cells.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.