Phenotypic and functional properties of γδ T Cells from patients with Guillain Barre syndrome

In this study we have examined the phenotypic and functional properties of circulating gamma delta T cells in patients with Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS), in normal healthy controls, and in patients with active multiple sclerosis (MS). Cells expressing the V delta 2 T cell receptor showed elevated expression of the C-lectin receptor NKRP1A in both GBS and MS, suggestive of an activated state. However, in patients with GBS these cells failed to respond to pyrenil-pyrophosphate derivatives and V delta 2 + T cell clones derived from these patients released lower levels of IFN gamma than V delta 2 + clones derived from controls and MS patients. In contrast, in patients with GBS the V delta 1 + subset was expanded, showed elevated expression of NKRP1A and V delta 1 + clones derived from these patients secreted high levels of IL-4. Our findings of expanded NKRP-1A +, IL-4-producing V delta 1 T cells in the GBS patients suggests the possibility that these cells are activated by the recognition of non-protein antigens in an MHC-unrestricted manner and contribute to the humoral response to glycolipids that is a hallmark of this disease. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.