Study on Dsg3 induced activation of T cells in first degree relatives of patients with pemphigus vulparis / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate The Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 polarization in the peripheral blood of first degree relatives of pemphigus vulgaris(PV) and healthy control individuals, and to approach the mechanism of the Dsg3-specific autoimmunity in PV. Methods The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from first degree relatives and healthy control was stimulated for72 h with Dsg3 and without Dsg3. Th1/Th2, Tc1/Tc2 was assessed by four-color flow cytometry. Results The mean frequency of Dsg3-spe-cific Th2 cells for PV antibody positive first degree relatives was 10.13%±3.72%, compared with stimula-tion without antigen 7.28%±3.58%, the difference was significant (P<0.05). The percentage Dsg3-spe-cific Th2 was markedly higher in the PV antibody positive first degree relatives group than that in the control group(10.13%±3.72% vs 6.10%±2.82%, P<0.05) , Tc2 was markedly higher also (20.01%± 10.43% v514.91%±8.06%, 20.01%±10.43% vs 9.58%±5.49%, P<0.05). Conclusion When Dsg3 stimulated PBMC were used to stimulate autologous T cells an increased amount of Th2 and Tc2 was observed, it is implied that the imbalance of Th1/Th2, Tc1/Tc2 might play an important role in the initia-tion of PV.