[HLA-DR positive T cells and CD45R positive CD4 cells in primary Sjögren's syndrome]

In 55 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (PSJS), we studied on peripheral HLA-DR positive T cells, suppressor inducer (CD4 + CD45R) cell and helper inducer (CD4 + CDw29) cells by 2-color analysis using flow cytometry system. As shown in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), progressive systemic sclerosis and myositis, the rate of pheripheral HLA-DR positive T cells in PSJS (5.9% +/- 3.9) was significantly higher than in normal (1.6% +/- 1.1). The rate of CD4 +/- CD45R + cells in PSJS (12.8% +/- 6.1) and SLE (12.8% +/- 8.2) were significantly lower than in normal (16.6% +/- 3.9). With respect to the disease pattern of PSJS, the increase of HLA-DR positive T cell and decrease of CD4 + CD45R cell were recognized in patients with leucopenia, high titer of anti-RNP antibody and/or abnormal findings of sialography, and the decrease of CD4 + CD45R + cell was not recognized in patients with kerato-conjunctivitis sicca alone. In either SLE or RA, there were no correlations between the rate of T cell subsets (HLA-DR positive T cells and CD4 + CD45R cells) and the degree of salivary gland damage. T cell subsets in PSJS were useful indicators of disease severity and it is also useful for classifying PSJS into several subtypes. To analyze T cell surface markers in PSJS is very important for investigation of functions of lymphocytes in this disease.