[OKT4 epitope deficiency in collagen disease patients]

We have studied the expression of OKT4-epitope on peripheral blood lymphocytes of 117 connective tissue disease patients and 72 normal controls. Three patients defected OKT4-epitope with a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). But they did not have any specific symptoms. The partial-deficiency patients with having as half as density of OKT4-epitope were found in SLE patients, other connective tissue disease patients and normal controls in a comparable proportion. Their mode of heredity was autosomal codominant as reported in the literature. And OKT4-epitope defective PBL reacted with mitogens normally. The relationship between OKT4-epitope deficiency and immunological disorder is not presently clarified. However, it might be relevant to study the role of OKT4-epitope in CD4 molecule in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease.