Immunological aspects of Werner's syndrome: an analysis of 17 patients

Several immunological assessments of the Werner syndrome are described, including detection of antibodies frequently found in autoimmune diseases and analysis of age-related changes of cell subpopulations. By using sensitive techniques such as fluorescence-activated cell sorting and solid-phase radioimmunoassay, anti-lymphocyte antibodies and anti-DNA antibodies were frequently detected in the sera from patients with the Werner syndrome. Anti-nuclear antibodies were also detected in a conventional manner; however, the titers of these antibodies were very low. Examination of cell populations revealed marked decreases in the T cell subsets reactive to both antilymphocytic antibodies and anti-brain associated T cell antigen antibodies.