TY - JOUR
T1 - Polymyositis mediated by T lymphocytes that express the γ/δ receptor
AU - Hohlfeld, Reinhard
AU - Engel, Andrew G.
AU - Ii, Kunio
AU - Harper, Michel C.
PY - 1991/3/28
Y1 - 1991/3/28
N2 - Background. The invasion and destruction of nonnecrotic muscle fibers by CD8+ cytotoxic T cells is considered a hallmark of polymyositis. In the cases of polymyositis reported so far, the autoinvasive CD8+ T cells expressed the common form of T-cell receptor for the recognition of antigen, the so-called α/β T-cell receptor. We describe a 69-year-old man with polymyositis mediated by CD4—, CD8— T cells expressing the recently discovered, uncommon γ/δ T-cell receptor. Methods. We used immunofluorescence or immunoperoxidase techniques to study frozen sections of muscle from our patient, who had mild weakness of cervical and proximal limb muscles, and from control patients with polymyositis, inclusion-body myositis, dermatomyositis, or granulomatous myopathy with monoclonal antibodies against T-cell-related antigens (CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, and γ/δ T-cell receptor), B cells (CD22), major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and MHC-related antigens (MHC Class I, CD1a, CD1b, and CD1c), and the 65-kd heat-shock protein. The membrane contacts between the autoinvasive cells and the sarcolemma were investigated by electron microscopy. Results. In the patient described here, but not in 28 others with inflammatory myopathies, myriad γ/δ T cells surrounded and invaded nonnecrotic muscle fibers. All muscle fibers were highly reactive for MHC Class I antigen and the 65-kd heat-shock protein. Treatment with prednisone improved the clinical and histologie findings. Conclusions. Polymyositis can be mediated by γ/δ T cells. This new form of polymyositis appears to be highly responsive to steroids. (N Engl J Med 1991; 324:877–81.)
AB - Background. The invasion and destruction of nonnecrotic muscle fibers by CD8+ cytotoxic T cells is considered a hallmark of polymyositis. In the cases of polymyositis reported so far, the autoinvasive CD8+ T cells expressed the common form of T-cell receptor for the recognition of antigen, the so-called α/β T-cell receptor. We describe a 69-year-old man with polymyositis mediated by CD4—, CD8— T cells expressing the recently discovered, uncommon γ/δ T-cell receptor. Methods. We used immunofluorescence or immunoperoxidase techniques to study frozen sections of muscle from our patient, who had mild weakness of cervical and proximal limb muscles, and from control patients with polymyositis, inclusion-body myositis, dermatomyositis, or granulomatous myopathy with monoclonal antibodies against T-cell-related antigens (CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, and γ/δ T-cell receptor), B cells (CD22), major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and MHC-related antigens (MHC Class I, CD1a, CD1b, and CD1c), and the 65-kd heat-shock protein. The membrane contacts between the autoinvasive cells and the sarcolemma were investigated by electron microscopy. Results. In the patient described here, but not in 28 others with inflammatory myopathies, myriad γ/δ T cells surrounded and invaded nonnecrotic muscle fibers. All muscle fibers were highly reactive for MHC Class I antigen and the 65-kd heat-shock protein. Treatment with prednisone improved the clinical and histologie findings. Conclusions. Polymyositis can be mediated by γ/δ T cells. This new form of polymyositis appears to be highly responsive to steroids. (N Engl J Med 1991; 324:877–81.)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0025752993&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0025752993&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1056/NEJM199103283241303
DO - 10.1056/NEJM199103283241303
M3 - Article
C2 - 1705662
AN - SCOPUS:0025752993
SN - 0028-4793
VL - 324
SP - 877
EP - 881
JO - New England Journal of Medicine
JF - New England Journal of Medicine
IS - 13
ER -