Ann Rheum Dis 2001;60:495-499 ( May )

Extended report

Flow cytometric analysis of gut mucosal lymphocytes supports an impaired Th1 cytokine profile in spondyloarthropathy N Van Damme^a, M De Vos^b, D Baeten^a, P Demetter^c, H Mielants^a, G Verbruggen^a, C Cuvelier^c, E M Veys^a, F De Keyser^a

^a Department of Rheumatology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium, ^b Department of Gastroenterology, ^c Department of Pathology

Correspondence to: Dr N Van Damme, Ghent University Hospital, Department of Rheumatology 0K12 IB, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium Nancy.VanDamme{at}rug.ac.be

Accepted for publication 20 October 2000

OBJECTIVETo quantify the fraction of gut mucosal lymphocytes expressing the T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokines, interferon  (IFN) and interleukin (IL)2, and the Th2 cytokines, IL4 and IL10, at the single cell level in patients with spondyloarthropathy (SpA) in comparison with healthy controls.
METHODSAn improved extraction protocol was used for the enrichment of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and lamina propria lymphocytes (LPLs) from colonic and ileal biopsy specimens obtained from patients with SpA (n=20) and healthy controls (n=13). After stimulation with phorbol ester/ionomycin, expression of the intracellular cytokines IFN, IL2, IL4, and IL10 was determined in CD3+, CD3+CD8+ and CD3+CD8 T cells by flow cytometry.
RESULTSIn colonic LPLs, a significant decrease in IFN-producing CD3+ cells was observed (p=0.02) in patients with SpA. In the CD3+CD8 subset, the proportion of cells producing IFN and IL2 was decreased in patients with SpA (p=0.021 and p=0.027 respectively). In ileal LPLs, the percentage of IL10-producing CD3+CD8 cells was significantly increased (p=0.046).
CONCLUSIONAn impaired Th1 cytokine profile is observed in gut mucosal lymphocytes from patients with SpA. This adds to the existing evidence that the gut mucosal immune apparatus is involved in the pathogenesis of SpA.

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© 2001 by Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
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