CD30 EXPRESSION DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN HUMAN TH1-TYPE AND TH2-TYPE T-CELLS

CD30 is a member of the TNF receptor superfamily that is commonly used as a marker for Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin's disease . More recently, it has been proposed that CD30 is preferentially up-r egulated on Th2-type human T cells. We analyzed regulation of CD30 exp ression on both peripheral blood T cells and T cell clones. In short-t erm culture, CD30 expression could be induced on T cells by Ags that e licit Th2-type responses (Schistosoma haematobium, adult worm Ag, and Toxocaria canis, excretory/secretory Ag) and Th0-type responses (tetan us toxoid), as well as Th1-type responses (tuberculin purified protein derivative). Moreover, simultaneous measurement of membrane phenotype and cytokine production showed that CD30-expressing cells can produce IFN-gamma. Finally, within panels of randomly generated as well as Ag -specific T cell clones, CD30 expression was found on Th0-, Th2-, and Th1-type clones. We conclude that induction of CD30 on activated T cel ls is not related to differentiation into Th0-, Th1-, or Th2-type cell s.