TYPE-2 HELPER T-CELL PREDOMINANCE AND HIGH CD30 EXPRESSION IN SYSTEMIC-SCLEROSIS

The pattern of cytokine production of skin-infiltrating T cells from p atients with progressive systemic sclerosis was investigated. Most CD4 (+) T-cell clones generated from skin biopsy specimens showed a type 2 helper (Th2) cytokine profile (production of interleukin-4, but no in terferon (IFN)-gamma). High interleukin-4 but little or no IFN-gamma m RNA expression was found by tn situ hybridization in skin perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrates. The immunohistochemical analysis reveal ed CD30 expression by high numbers of CD4(+) T cells in the same speci mens. Finally, the great majority of patients with diffuse disease had elevated levels of soluble CD30 in their sera. These data suggest the existence in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis of a predom inant activation of Th2-like T cells, which may account for the major alterations (endothelial cell injury, fibrosis, and autoantibody produ ction) occurring in this disease.