DISTURBANCES OF T-CELL INTERACTIONS WITH ENDOTHELIUM AND THE EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIX PROTEINS IN A PATIENT WITH TAKAYASU-ARTERITIS

T-cell interactions with endothelium and the extracellular matrix prot eins were studied in vitro in a patient with Takayasu arteritis. Marke dly enhanced spontaneous adhesiveness to cultured endothelium and coll agen TV and fibronectin were found to be paralleled by abolished respo nses to the costimulating action of collagens I and TV and fibronectin . Those abnormalities were partly corrected by immunosuppressive thera py. Aberrant interactions of T cells with endothelium and the extracel lular matrix proteins may underlay the pathogenesis of some forms of v asculitis.