Specific bronchoalveolar lavage fluid T cells associate with disease in a pair of monozygotic twins discordant for sarcoidosis

J Intern Med. 2001 Dec;250(6):535-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2796.2001.00916.x.

Abstract

A 49-year-old Caucasian woman had an acute onset of sarcoidosis. Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) showed a pronounced accumulation of BAL fluid CD4+ T cells expressing the T-cell receptor (TCR) AV2S 3 gene. In line with this observation, the patient was HLA-DR 17 positive, previously shown to strongly correlate with lung compartmentalized AV2S3+ T cells. At follow-up after recovery, reduced numbers of BAL fluid AV2S3+ T cells were found. Interestingly, BAL fluid of a healthy monozygotic twin sister contained normal numbers of AV2S3+ lung T cells. This report shows the T-cell repertoire of BAL fluid T cells to correlate with the disease (sarcoidosis). indicating a local and specific immune response triggered by an unknown antigen in sarcoidosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology*
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Diseases in Twins / genetics*
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • HLA-DR Antigens / genetics
  • HLA-DR Antigens / immunology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / immunology
  • Sarcoidosis / genetics*
  • Sarcoidosis / immunology*
  • Twins, Monozygotic

Substances

  • HLA-DR Antigens
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta