Immunoregulatory cell subsets in Goodpasture's syndrome: Evidence for selective T suppressor-cell depletion during active autoimmune disease

Abstract

In a patient with documented untreated Goodpasture's syndrome, serial determination of T-cell subsets using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry revealed a persistent but variable deficiency of T-suppressor cells during the period of active disease. As the percentage of OKT8+ cells (suppressor/cytotoxic T cells) returned to normal levels, anti-basement membrane autoantibody production decreased and finally disappeared. Possible pathogenetic implications of immunoregulatory cell imbalance specifically in reference to Goodpasture's syndrome are discussed.

T Cell Subsets in Idiopathic Glomerulonephritis

“…Moreover, selective suppressor T cell deficiency and elevated OKT4+/OKT8+ cell ra tio has recently been demonstrated in an untreated patient with anti-GBM disease due to Goodpasture's syndrome [19], In contrast, T lymphocyte subsets were found to be normal in both adult [11] and childhood [20] minimal-change GN in which clear evidence for immunologic pathogenesis is wanting [21]. Collec tively, these data raise the possibility that increased OKT4+/OKT8+ cell ratio in IGN may not necessar ily reflect any specific glomerular pathology or the mechanism of immune pathogenesis (i.e.…”