Takayasu arteritis: insights into immunopathology

Takayasu arteritis is an acute and sometimes chronic form of vasculitis involving the aorta, its main branches and pulmonary arteries. Although its etiology is still unknown, immunopathologic analyses revealed that the infiltrating cells mainly consisted of gammadelta T-cells as well as alphabeta T-cells and NK cells. The infiltrating gammadelta T-cells, cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs), and natural killer (NK) cells directly injured the vascular cells by releasing a cytolytic factor, perforin. Expression of heat-shock protein (HSP)-65 as well as human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II was enhanced in Takayasu arteritis lesions, supporting the pathogenic role of gammadelta T-cells and alphabeta T-cells. T-cell receptor (TCR) alphabeta gene usage by the infiltrating cells was restricted, strongly suggesting that a specific antigen was targeted. TCR gammadelta gene usage by the infiltrating cells was also restricted. Furthermore, it has been reported that a strong association with a specific haplotype of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related (MIC), MICA gene with Takayasu arteritis, suggesting that the HLA-linked gene susceptible to the disease is mapped near the MICA gene. This also supports a pathogenic role of gammadelta T-cells in Takayasu arteritis because gammadelta T-cells were shown to recognize MICA molecule, which can be stress-induced. These findings suggest that unknown stress, such as infection, may trigger the autoimmune process of inflammation involved in Takayasu arteritis.