Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic inflammatory connective tissue disease of unknown etioiogy characterized by fibrosis and microvascuiar injury in affected organs. It has become clear that th e activation of celluiar immune system piays a central roie in the pathogenesis of SSc. OBJECTIVE: The purpose oE this study was to anaiyze numerically iymphocytic subpopuiations in the biood of systemic sclerosis patients and their relations with clinicai and iaboratory mani[estations. METHODS: We studied a group of 42 patients with SSc and a group oE 28 matched normai controis by flow cytometry using the following iymphocyte celi-surrace markers: CD2, CD3, CD4, CDS, CD19, CD25, CD45RA, CD56, CD71, HLADR, TCRα/β and TCRγ/δ. RESULTS: SSc patients had similar percentages of CD2+, CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CDS+, CD25+, CD4+CD45RA+, CDS+CD45RA+, CD71+ cells and CD4+/ CDS+ celi ratio when compared to . normal controis. ln contrast, the percentages of TCRγ/δ cells were significantiy iower in SSc patients with diffuse and iate-stage disease with puimonary and muscle invoivement and the presence of anti-Scl-70 antibodies. Patients with diffuse SSc in early and iate-stage disease had significantly increased percentages of HLA-DR in CD4+ and CDS+ celis; patients with iate-stage disease had increased percentages of CD4+CD45RA+ T celis; patients with iimited and eariy-stage disease had small pereentages of B eelis (CD19+): and patients with diffuse and iate-stage disease had small pereentages of NK eells (CD56 +). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that T, B and NK eell alterations may be invoived in the onset of the disease and/ or in the perpetuation of disease, and may eventuaJJy be usefui as a prognostie indieator in seleeted patient subgroups.
systemie sc1erosis; T eelis; gamma/ delta eelis; autoimmunity; immunophenotypie anaiysis
