This difference was accounted for both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells for the TNF-α producing cells, and mainly by CD8+ T cells for IFN-γ producing lymphocytes.
The proportion of IL-2 and IL-4 producing lymphocytes showed statistically significant changes in each comparison between the three different moments of the championship (see Table 2).
Flow cytometry studies demonstrated a high frequency of inflammatory cytokine (IFN-γ and TNF-α) producing lymphocytes in HAM/TSP as compared to the asymptomatic group.
To determine the cytolytic potential of the CTLs, the frequencies of antigen-specific GrB, Prf and IFN-γ producing lymphocytes were analyzed with ELISPOT.
The flow cytometric determination of cytokine producing lymphocytes extend the observations made in supernatants of lymphocytes cultures showing a significant increase in the frequency of IFN-γ and TNF-α producing cells in patients with HAM/TSP.
They also demonstrated that gld mice had fewer TNF-α producing lymphocytes in the kidneys and renal lymph nodes, and that pharmacologic blockade of FasL prevented AKI in wild-type mice after IRI.
For each of the athletes, data regarding the proportion of cytokines producing lymphocytes (IL-2, IFN- γ, TNF- α, and IL-4) and the lymphocyte subpopulations (absolute count and proportion of NK, CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD19) were compared by analysing their variation in the three consecutive blood samples.
The present study shows that lymphocytes from patients with HAM/TSP displayed higher spontaneous proliferation and IFN-γ synthesis, a higher frequency of TNF-α and IFN-γ producing lymphocytes and a significant increase in the deregulated T cell population, CD28-/CD8+, as compared to those from HTLV-I asymptomatic carriers.
In conclusion, these results show an exacerbated type 1 immune response in HAM/TSP patients, characterized by elevated IFN-γ production, an increased frequency of TNF-α and IFN-γ producing lymphocytes, and by an increase in the frequency of CD28-/CD8+ T cells.
No difference was seen between active TB, LTBI or any of those treated for TB in the ELISPOT analysis of antigen-specific Granzyme B (GrB), Perforin (Prf) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) producing lymphocytes, the FACS analysis of the intracellular expression of IFN-γ, or the surface expression of CD107a degranulation factor of both CD8+ and CD4+ antigen-specific T cell subsets.
Recent studies have found that RA patients with joint inflammation have increased helper T lymphocyte cells (Th1) and IL-17 cytokine producing T lymphocytes, which lead to a high level of IL-17 in synovial fluid [ 8].
