Deficit of Gammadelta T Lymphocytes in the Peripheral Blood of Patients with Crohn’s Disease

• Published in: Digestive diseases and sciences 2011-09, Vol.56 (9), p.2613-2622
• Main Authors: Andreu-Ballester, Juan Carlos, Amigó-García, Victoria, Catalán-Serra, Ignacio, Gil-Borrás, Rafael, Ballester, Ferrán, Almela-Quilis, Amadeo, Millan-Scheiding, Monica, Peñarroja-Otero, Carlos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Colitis; Comparative analysis; Crohn Disease - blood; Crohn Disease - drug therapy; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Hepatology; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Male; Medical research; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Medicine, Experimental; Middle Aged; Oncology; Original Article; Other diseases. Semiology; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; T cells; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - metabolism; Transplant Surgery; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0163-2116; 1573-2568
• DOI: 10.1007/s10620-011-1636-8

Background Gammadelta T lymphocytes are an important component of innate immunity. Previous studies have shown their role in the development of Crohn’s-like colitis in mice. Aims The aim of this study was to measure the γδ T lymphocyte levels in Crohn’s disease (CD) patients. Methods A prospective study of 40 patients with CD compared with 40 healthy subjects (control group) matched by age and sex was undertaken. Lennard-Jones criteria were used for the diagnosis of CD. Disease activity was measured with the Crohn’s disease activity index (CDAI). New patients, patients in remission, and patients with active disease were evaluated. Lymphocytic populations of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD56+, CD19+, and αβ and γδ subsets were measured in the peripheral blood of all participants. Results The levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ lymphocytes were decreased in CD patients compared with the control group ( P  = 0.002, 0.049, 0.003, and 0.023, respectively). Although both γδ and αβ T lymphocytes were lower in patients with CD, γδ T subsets showed the lowest levels in CD patients (mean 0.0259 × 10 9 /l) versus healthy controls (mean 0.0769 × 10 9 /l), P