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Prevalence, clinical relevance and characterization of circulating cytotoxic CD4+CD28- T cells in ankylosing spondylitis

2003; BioMed Central; Volume: 5; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1186/ar793

1478-6362

Christina Duftner, Christian Goldberger, A. Falkenbach, Reinhard Würzner, Barbara Falkensammer, Karl Pfeiffer, Elisabeth Maerker-Hermann, Michael Schirmer,

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Research

Circulating CD3+CD4+CD28- cells exhibit reduced apoptosis and were found to be more enriched in patients with ankylosing spondylitis than in age-matched healthy control individuals (7.40 +/- 6.6% versus 1.03 +/- 1.0%; P < 0.001). Levels of CD4+CD28- T cells correlate with disease status as measured using a modified metrology score, but they are independent of age and duration of ankylosing spondylitis. CD4+CD28- T cells produce IFN-gamma and perforin, and thus they must be considered proinflammatory and cytotoxic. These T cells share phenotypic and functional properties of natural killer cells, strongly expressing CD57 but lacking the lymphocyte marker CD7. MHC class I recognizing and activating natural killer cell receptors on the surface of CD4+CD28- T cells may be involved in a HLA-B27 mediated co-stimulation of these proinflammatory and cytotoxic cells.