Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Increased CD4+CD16+ and CD4+CD56+ T cell subsets in Behçet's disease

Rheumatology International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Behçet's disease is a systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology. Various immune abnormalities have previously been shown in Behçet's disease. We investigated T lymphocyte subsets associated with cytotoxic activity and natural killer (NK) cells by flow cytometry in 37 patients with Behçet's disease, 38 healthy controls, and 17 diseased control patients. Compared to the healthy controls, CD4+CD16+ and CD4+CD56+ subsets were found to be higher in the Behçet's disease group as well as in the disease control group (CD4+CD16+: BD=5 ± 3, DC=14 ± 14, HC= 3 ± 2, P=0.001; CD4+CD56+: BD=11 ± 5, DC= 18 ± 17, HC=8 ± 6, P=0.01). CD8+CD16+ and CD8+CD56+ T cell subsets were at normal levels in Behçet's disease but found to be elevated in disease controls. Similarly, NK cells (CD16+CD56+) were high only in the disease control group. Significant increases in CD4+CD16+ and CD4+CD56+ cell subsets in Behçet's patients and disease controls suggest that T cell activation patterns of these subsets in Behçet's disease are similar to those in other inflammatory disorders.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Received: 26 March 1999 / Accepted: 16 July 1999

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Eksioglu-Demiralp, E., Direskeneli, H., Ergun, T. et al. Increased CD4+CD16+ and CD4+CD56+ T cell subsets in Behçet's disease. Rheumatology International 19, 23–26 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002960050094

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002960050094

Navigation