Antibodies to T cells in sarcoidosis

Antibodies to a proportion of T lymphocytes were detected in the sera of 9 of 15 patients with sarcoidosis. Patients were studied within one year of tissue diagnosis, none were taking steroids, and all had hilar adenopathy with pulmonary infiltrates (Stage II). Antibodies were identified by three assays using a panel of T cells purified (greater than or equal to 90%) from the peripheral blood of healthy donors by the nylon column technique. Nine of fifteen sarcoid inhibited the capacity of normal T cells to adhere to sheep red blood cells (E rosettes) with an average reduction of 33% (range 21-46%) from control values. Antibodies to T cells were also identified using the indirect immunofluorescent method; 7 of 15 sera contained antibodies (IgM and IgG) to a portion of T cells (mean 36%, range 24-52%). Four of these sera were also cytotoxic to a fraction (18-31%) of T cells when incubated (15 degrees, 90 min) in the presence of rabbit complement. The antibodies to T cells identified in the sera of sarcoid patients may account for some of the immunological abnormalities found in this disease.