DEPLETION OF LYMPHOCYTES WITH MEMBRANE MARKERS OF HELPER PHENOTYPE - A FEATURE OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC DRUG-INDUCED IMMUNOSUPPRESSION

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 51  (2) , 345-350
Abstract
T cell subsets tested with markers for Fc receptors for Ig (TM [T cell with receptors for IgM], TG and EAhu [human erythrocyte] rosettes) or monoclonal antibodies (T4 and T8 lymphocytes) were investigated both in normal volunteers and in kidney transplant recipients with a well functioning graft and receiving low immunosuppressive therapy, before and 4 after administration of 100 mg hydrocortisone. Hydrocortisone induced a redistribution which was characterized by a decrease in the percentages of TM (38 .+-. 2.4 before; 22 .+-. 2.9 after; P < 0.0005) and T4 (48 .+-. 2.6 before; 35.8 .+-. 2.7 after; P < 0.0025) lymphocytes. Transplanted patients under chronic immunosuppression already disclosed a reduction of the percentages of TM (19.4 .+-. 2.6; P < 0.005) and T4 (41.1 .+-. 3.6; P < 0.05) lymphocytes before the administration of hydrocortisone when compared to the values obtained in normals. Significant decrease of percentages of TM lymphocytes (19.4 .+-. 2.6 before; 12.8 .+-. 2.6 after; P < 0.01) were obtained after hydrocortisone injection. T8, TG and EAhu rosettes percentages were characterized by a relative resistance to immunosuppressive agents, the only exception being TG lymphocytes in transplant recipients. TM and T4 depletion is a common feature of acute and chronic drug-induced immunosuppression, suggesting that helper-inducer cells are important targets for immunosuppressive therapy.