Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate CD8+CD57+ T cell frequency in uveitis patients, the expression of cell migration markers on T cells, and to correlate the immunological data with the ocular findings.
Methods: :
Uveitis patients were included. The expression of CD8, CD57, CD103, CD108, CCR9, CLA were assessed by flow cytometry on peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Data were analized with Sigma-Stat software. The correlations were performed using Spearman or Pearson correlations. Differences were considered statistically when p < 0.05
Results: :
CD8+CD57+ T cell frequency was increased in uveitis patients. Expression of CD103(p=0.02), CD108(p=0.03), CCR9(p<0.001) and CLA(p=0.01) on T cells was statistically significant in panuveitis patients than in intermediate uveitis patients. Patients with more clinical punctuation showed significant correlation with the expression of CLA(r=-1, p=0.0001) and CD8(r=-1, p=0.008). A positive correlation was observed in intermediate uveitis patients, when CD108 expression was associated with CCR9 expression (r= 0.9, p=0.03) on T cells
Conclusions: :
CD8+CD57+ T cell frequency was increased in uveitis patients. T cells from intermediate uveitis patients were mainly CD108+CCR9+, suggesting eye homing. T cells from panuveitis patients were mainly CD103+CD108+CCR9+CLA+, suggesting both, eye and skin homing. Clinical-immunological correlation was significant only in panuvetis patients. CLA/CD8 could be biological markers of intraocular immunological activity.Acknowledgments: This work was partially supported by a grant from CONACyT 71291 and Fundacion Conde de Valenciana
Keywords: autoimmune disease • inflammation • immune tolerance/privilege