IMMUNE FUNCTION IN SARCOIDOSIS - STUDIES ON DELAYED-HYPERSENSITIVITY, B AND T LYMPHOCYTES, SERUM IMMUNOGLOBULINS AND SERUM COMPLEMENT COMPONENTS

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  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 26  (3) , 511-519
Abstract
An assessment of immune function was performed in 24 patients with recently diagnosed active sarcoidosis. Four patients manifested skin anergy to 4 antigens. All subjects except 1 were capable of generating a positive skin response to a Croton oil patch test. The incorporation of [3H]thymidine by lymphocytes in vitro in response to the nonspecific mitogens (phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen and Con A [concanavalin A]) did not differ between anergic and non-anergic subjects. Lymphocytes from the anergic subjects failed to produce MIF [migration inhibition factor] or increase [3H]-thymidine incorporation in vitro when stimulated by the specific antigens, streptokinase/streptodornase or Candida albicans. Lymphocytes obtained from 9 of 11 patients having positive delayed hypersensitivity skin reactions demonstrated MIF production in vitro upon specific antigen challenge. Quantities of circulating B [bone marrow-derived] and T [thymus-derived] lymphocytes did not differ between anergic and non-anergic subjects. The sarcoidosis subjects had decreased absolute numbers of circulating B and T lymphocytes, as well as hypercomplementemia and hypergammaglobulinemia when compared to the control group.