Differences in CCR5 expression on peripheral blood CD4+CD28- T-cells and in granulomatous lesions between localized and generalized Wegener's granulomatosis

Peter Lamprecht*, Hilke Bruhl, Anika Erdmann, Konstanze Holl-Ulrich, Elena Csernok, Ulrike Seitzer, Matthias Mack, Alfred C. Feller, Eva Reinhold-Keller, Wolfgang L. Gross, Antje Muller

*Corresponding author for this work
58 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is an autoimmune disease characterized by granulomatous lesions and a necrotizing vasculitis. Th1-type-cells lacking CD28 are expanded independent of age and immunosuppressive therapy in WG. To address their migratory properties of CD4+CD28- T-cells we studied the expression of the inducible inflammatory Th1-type chemokine receptor CCR5 in localized WG and generalized WG. Expansion of CD4+CD28- T-cells was more prominent in generalized WG compared to localized WG. In localized WG a larger fraction of CD4+CD28- T-cells displayed CCR5 expression compared to generalized WG. CCR5 expression was also higher in granulomatous lesions in localized WG. Higher levels of CCR5 expression on CD4+CD28- T-cells in localized WG may favor stronger CCR5-mediated recruitment of this T-cell subset into granulomatous lesions in localized WG. Expansion of Th-1-type CD4+CD28-CCR5+ effector memory T-cells might contribute to disease progression and autoreactivity, either directly, by maintaining the inflammatory response, or as a result of bystander activation.

Original languageEnglish
JournalClinical Immunology
Volume108
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)1-7
Number of pages7
ISSN1521-6616
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.07.2003

Funding

Supported by Grants SFB367/C1 (U.S.) and SFB 367/A8 (P.L., A.M., and W.L.G.) from the German Research Society (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/DFG), and Grants No. 0.2 and 02.2 from the Verein zur Foerderung der Erforschung und Bekaempfung rheumatischer Erkrankungen Bad Bramstedt e.V. (A.M. and P.L.). We thank Kirsten Barre, Linda Carstens, Isabell Wenzel, and Gabriele Feldhoff for excellent technical assistance. We are grateful to the patients for their cooperation.

Research Areas and Centers

  • Academic Focus: Center for Infection and Inflammation Research (ZIEL)

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