Background: An altered production of cytokines has been described in Gleich
's syndrome. Our aim was to study the cytokine production at the single-cel
l level in a patient with Gleich's syndrome and to determine whether it cha
nged during a flare episode.
Methods: Blood samples were obtained from a 30-year-old woman diagnosed wit
h Gleich's syndrome before and during the Subsequent flare of edema of trun
k and arms and weight gain. The major lymphoid subsets (CD4 +, CD8 +, and C
D19 +) and natural killer (NK) cells were measured by flow cytometry. Cytok
ine-producing T cells (IL-2, IFN-gamma, and IL-4) were quantified in whole
blood by intracellular staining with specific monoclonal antibodies and flo
w cytometry analysis after polyclonal stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate
13-acetate and ionomycin.
Results: Increased numbers of immature CD4 + CD8 + T cells and NK cells wer
e observed in peripheral blood during the asymptomatic period. The latter p
opulation significantly decreased during the flare. Type-1 cells were decre
ased in both asymptomatic arid, more markedly, during the attack with respe
ct to healthy subjects.
Conclusions: The decreased type-1 response demonstrated in this patient mig
ht be the basis of the hypereosinophilia of Gleich's syndrome. Besides, the
NK cells might play a role in the pathogenesis of these inflammatory episo
des.