Changes in T-cell subsets in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with total lymphoid irradiation

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0090-1229(83)90075-2· OSTI ID:5622043

Kotzin, B L; Kansas, G S; Engleman, E G; Hoppe, R T; Kaplan, H S; Strober, S

Patients with intractable rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were treated with total lymphoid irradiation (TLI, 2000 rads). We previously reported long-lasting clinical improvement associated with marked suppression of in vitro lymphocyte function in this group. In an attempt to better understand the mechanism of immunosuppression and clinical changes observed after TLI, we studied in greater detail changes in peripheral blood T-cell subsets identified by monoclonal antibodies. Before TLI, RA patients had a higher percentage of Leu-3 (helper subset) cells and a lower percentage of Leu-2 (suppressor/cytotoxic subset) cells than normals. Immediately after TLI, the absolute numbers of both Leu-2 and Leu-3 cells were reduced by at least 90%. Within 6-12 weeks, the number of Leu-2 cells returned to the pretreatment levels, but the levels of Leu-3 cells remained depressed for months thereafter. The lack of repopulation of Leu-3 cells resulted in a marked increase in the ratio of Leu-2 to Leu-3 cells as compared to pretreatment values (1.73 +/- 0.23 vs 0.39 +/- 0.06), and in a decrease in the percentage and absolute number of total T (Leu-1 and Leu-4) cells. The failure of Leu-3 cells (which mediate predominantly helper/inducer functions) to repopulate the peripheral blood may contribute to the prolonged clinical immunosuppression observed after TLI. Similar changes in T-cell subsets were not observed in RA patients given remittive drugs or low doses (200 rads) of radiotherapy. Thus, TLI differs from other treatment modalities with regard to its prolonged selective effect on the Leu-3 subset.

• Research Organization: Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, California
• OSTI ID: 5622043
• Journal Information: Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol.; (United States), Journal Name: Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol.; (United States) Vol. 27:2; ISSN CLIIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
ANTIBODIES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DISEASES
FEMALES
IMMUNE REACTIONS
IMMUNOSUPPRESSION
LEUKOCYTES
LYMPHOCYTES
MALES
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
PRIMATES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
RHEUMATIC DISEASES
SKELETAL DISEASES
SOMATIC CELLS
THERAPY
VERTEBRATES