Purpose

To investigate the frequency and phenotypic and functional characteristics of S-antigen (S-Ag) specific T cells in patients with Behcet’s disease (BD).

Methods

Blood was taken from 23 active BD patients, 12 inactive BD patients, and 14 healthy controls. The clinical features of the patients were summarized. T cell response against 40 mixed S-Ag peptides was identified by interferon gamma (IFN-γ) enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT). CD69 and CD45RO were used to characterize the phenotype of S-Ag specific T cells. The functional property of S-Ag specific T cells was investigated by measuring the production of cytokines.

Results

Response to the mixed S-Ag peptides was found in 56.5% and 25% of active and inactive BD patients, respectively. The responsiveness to S-Ag peptides was unrelated to the clinical features of the patients. About 65.8% of IFN-γ+ CD4+ T cells in active BD patients expressed CD69 and CD45RO concomitantly. S-Ag peptides significantly induced a production of IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α but not interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, and IL-17 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in active BD patients with a response to S-Ag.

Conclusions

S-Ag specific T cells are present in certain active BD patients, and most of them are activated memory CD4+ T cells. These T cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of BD via producing Th1-dominant cytokines.