DETERMINATION OF GAMMA DELTA AND OTHER T-LYMPHOCYTE SUBSETS IN BRONCHOALVEOLAR LAVAGE FLUID AND PERIPHERAL-BLOOD FROM PATIENTS WITH SARCOIDOSIS AND IDIOPATHIC FIBROSIS OF THE LUNG/

We measured five different lymphocyte subpopulations, including gamma/ delta-T cells, in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fl uid from 48 consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic BAL (patients w ith sarcoidosis (n=19), patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (I PF; n=11) and patients with other diseases of the lung). Quantitative analysis of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD16/56+ cells and gamma/delta-T cells w as done by flow cytometry. The proportion of CD3+ and CD4+ cells in th e peripheral blood of patients with sarcoidosis and IPF was significan tly diminished, while CD8+ lymphocytes and NK cells were significantly elevated compared to healthy controls. There was no significant diffe rence for the gamma/delta-T cell subpopulation between patients with s arcoidosis, IPF and the control group. The proportion of CD3+ and CD4 cells in BAL fluid was significantly elevated in sarcoidosis compared to IPF, while CD8+ cells were significantly diminished. Natural kilte r cells, defined as CD16/56+ CD3- cells, showed comparable low numbers in sarcoidosis and IPE For gamma/delta-T cells no significant differe nce was found between patients with sarcoidosis and IPF.