Abnormalities of T-cell subsets in Behcet's syndrome

Abstract

T cells and T-cell subsets were determined in the peripheral blood of 12 patients with Behçet's syndrome and 30 normal healthy control subjects. When compared with the control group, the mean percentage of T cells for the group with Behçet's syndrome was significantly decreased (73% v 61%). The mean percentage of T mu (helper) cells for the group with Behçet's syndrome (26%) was also significantly decreased from the mean value of the control group (42%). There was a concomitant significant increase of T gamma (suppressor) cells of the group with Behçet's syndrome (19%) over the mean value of the control group (10%). These results clearly indicated that there were alterations of T cells and T-cell subsets in this disease.

Associations between interferon regulatory factor–1 polymorphisms and Behçet’s disease

“…T-cell-mediated immune response plays a central role in the pathogenesis of BD and BD is now accepted to be a Th1-driven disease, in which the expression of Th1 cytokines including IFN-␥ is dominant. Moreover, BD patients have low CD4ϩ T cells and high CD8ϩ T cell levels [49,50]. Therefore, these reported immunologic alterations in BD can not be explained by results of the present study, and IRF-1 may be not a major genetic factor underlying the immunologic abnormalities associated with BD.…”