CD5+ B-LYMPHOCYTES AND CD4+CD45RA+ T-CELLS IN GRAVES-DISEASE

Fifteen patients affected by new-onset Graves' disease with ophthalmopathy have been examined for lymphocyte subset phenotypes by two -colour cytometric analysis. CD5+B cells were significantly increased in comparison to the normal population (43.2+/-20.6% versus 19.5+/-6.9%; p<0.0009); total T cells showed a normal amount (70.4+/-9.6%), but the levels of THLADR+ cells were significantly increased in comparison to the control group (13.7+/-10.5% versus 4.7+/-3.2%; p<0.007). The characterization of the subset suppressor-inducer CD4+CD45RA+, evaluated as percentage of the total CD4+ T cells, showed a significant decrease in comparison with the control group (43.8+/-13.5% versus 52.3+/-6.5%; p<0.03).Serum immunoglobulin evaluation showed a statistically significant increase of IgM (p < 0.05) and a significant decrease of IgA (p < 0.02). A statistical correlation between IgM levels and percentage of CD5+ B cells has been found (p < 0.04). The effect of suppressor-inducer T cell subset, along with the increase of CD5+ B cells may contribute to the pathogenetic mechanism of the disease in patients with a genetically-induced aberrant immune response.