PHENOTYPE AND FUNCTIONAL PROFILE OF T-CELLS EXPRESSING GAMMA-DELTA RECEPTOR FROM PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE BEHCETS-DISEASE

Objective. Our aim was to investigate the TCR gamma delta + subset in Behcet's disease (ED) inflammatory sites, which better reflects change s associated with the pathologic process than peripheral blood. Method s. Forty-five patients with active ED, IO patients with recurrent apht hous ulcers, 12 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 5 patients with no ninflammatory neurologic diseases and 15 healthy individuals were stud ied. Three monoclonal antibodies TCR delta 1, BB3, and A13 were used t o assess the percentage of TCR gamma delta + in peripheral blood monon uclear cells (PBMC), in bronchoalveolar lavage and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CD11a/CD18 was used to study adhesion molecules. TCR gamma del ta + cells isolated by immunomagnetic separation were tested for cytol ytic activity against K562 target cells after interleukin 2 stimulatio n. Results. The PBMC TCR gamma delta BB3 + subset was significantly in creased in ED. In ED inflammatory sites, TCR gamma delta + cells were also present, composed mainly of A13 + cells. T cells from these sites also expressed CD11a marker, TCR gamma delta + cells from inflammator y sites displayed a higher cytotoxic activity than controls, mediated by the A13+ subset. Conclusion. The accumulation of cytotoxic TCR gamm a delta cells at the sites of inflammation suggests their involvement in the local injury process.