Immunoregulation in Sjögren's Syndrome: INFLUENCE OF SERUM FACTORS ON T-CELL SUBPOPULATIONS

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Abstract

21 patients with Sjögren's syndrome (sicca syndrome) with either glandular or extraglandular involvement, but without other connective tissue diseases, were studied with regard to immunoregulatory T-cell subpopulations, B-cell function, and suppressor cell capabilities. Patients with isolated glandular disease as well as patients with extraglandular disease had normal absolute numbers of total lymphocytes, T cells, and B cells. However, 9 of 11 patients with extraglandular disease and only 3 of 10 patients with glandular disease had decreased relative proportions of T cells bearing receptors for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin (Ig)G (TG) which was explained by a factor that blocked the expression of the IgG Fc receptor on TG cells. This blockage was reversible since the factor could be removed by trypsinizing the T cells before TG determination. Serum from patients with abnormal proportions of TG cells, but not serum from patients with normal proportions of TG cells, blocked the expression of the IgG Fc receptor on normal T cells. The serum factor upon fractionation over Bio-Gel A 1.5 columns as well as over staphylococcal protein A-Sepharose 4B columns was found diffusely within the IgG fraction, and not in the IgM fraction.

Authors

Haralampos M. Moutsopoulos, Anthony S. Fauci