Cytotoxic effector function in HLA-associated autoimmune diseases

Background. The mechanisms by which cytotoxic-T-lymphocytes (CTLs) and natu ral killer (NK) cells recognize and kill target cells are the subject of in tense research, Previous observations in patients with HLA-associated autoi mmune diseases show a major impact of cell-mediated immunity as compared to antibody-mediated immunity, This study analyzes the possible co-operation of NK cells in the autoimmune process, comparing their increase to that of cytotoxicT-lymphocytes. Methods, This reasearch examines the incidence of CD8(+) T cells and NK cel ls increases in 1065 patients with various autoimmune diseases. Tissue typi ng for HLA antigens was carried out in all patients by conventional serolog ic methods, Lymphocyte subsets (CD4(+), CD8(+), CD3-HLA-DR+, NK cells, sIg( +) B cells) were detected with monoclonal antibodies by a fluorescent cytom eter, Results were statistically compared to normal control values by the S tudent's "t"-test, Results. The analysis of results shows the incidence of CTLs and NK cell in creases in patients with different autoimmune syndromes, In some diseases ( uveitis, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological autoimmune disorders) r aised frequencies of NK cell increase are most evident, These results sugge st some possible relationships between CTLs and NK cells in the pathogenesi s of the autoimmune process, Conclusions. The present results show that CTLs and NK cells are implicated in immune dysregulation, which characterizes the complex pathogenesis of a utoimmune diseases.