[Analysis of circulating T-lymphocyte subpopulations with monoclonal antibodies in psoriasis]

Subsets of peripheral blood lymphocytes were studied by surface markers in 15 patients with psoriasis. Eighth of them had active lesions and 7 had stable lesions. The number of T cells was estimated by indirect immunofluorescence with the monoclonal antibodies OKT3. The number of T inducer cells was estimated with the monoclonal antibodies OKT4. The number of T suppressor cells was estimated with the monoclonal antibodies OKT8. The number of T activated cells was estimated with the monoclonal antibodies Edu 1. The patients with psoriasis had increased T cell number, decreased T inducer cell number and increased T activated cell number. The patients with active lesions had the most pronounced alterations of T cells subsets. In these patients was observed also a decreased T inducer/T suppressor cell ratio. The results, that show alterations in T cell number and it ratio are not able to establish or clarify an inducer or suppressor T cell activity in the course of psoriasis.