T cell receptor γδ bearing cells are decreased in the peripheral blood of patients with atopic diseases

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Abstract
The biological role of T cell receptor (TCR) γδ bearing cells is currently not fully understood. Recently, a monoclonal antibody (TCRδ1) reacting against the whole molecule became available which facilitates the direct analysis of TCR-γδ+ cells. We studied 11 children with atopic dermatitis, 20 children with atopic asthma, 18 adults with atopic dermatitis and 38 healthy age matched controls aged 4–51 years. Lymphocytes were isolated from heparinized peripheral blood and the proportion of TCR-γδ+ lymphocytes was determined by FACS analysis. Patients with atopic diseases yielded a significantly (P+ cells compared with normal controls (median 4.8%versus 7.1%). The percentage of TCR-γδ+ cells showed an age-dependent decline in both the patient group (r=—0.49, Pr=–-0.40, P+, TCR-γδ+ cells could be identified in only a few individuals, CD8+, TCR-γδ+ cells were found in nearly all controls (median 2.4%, range 0.0–10.8%); atopic patients displayed significantly (P < 0.01) lower proportions of CD8+, TCR-γδ+ cells.